UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – The United Nations prepares for next week’s first round of talks on a global, legally-binding treaty on the import and export of weapons. This would be the first-ever treaty of its kind and the body hopes that the pact will be concluded by 2012, the United Nations (UN) announced on Friday.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) has been pursued since the League of Nations, the precursor of the UN. Currently, 80 percent of the global trade in conventional weapons is dominated by a handful of countries; with the coming of globalization over 100 nations are beginning to produce weapons.

“So the ATT is an effort to try to put a little bit of predictability into a very complex and sensitive issue. The ultimate goal is to try to have common standards to be applied by all countries when they export or import weapons,” said Roberto Garcia Moritan, Chair of the Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference on the ATT.

According to the UN Charter, Article 51 says that the UN Member States can purchase weapons if they need to defend themselves and for their security needs. However Garcia Moritan remarked that the current world situation calls for a different approach.

Without more regulations countries sometimes apply their own criteria in the sale of weapons which sometimes results in weapons being sold in illegal market and even in the destabilization of regions and countries.

“The ATT will not solve all problems, but I hope that the pact will pave the way for a common responsible attitude from all States that produce or buy or import weapons.”

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