Hon Murray McCully
Minister of Foreign Affairs
3 April 2013
UN takes steps to regulate arms trade
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the approval of the Arms Trade Treaty by the United Nations
General Assembly in New York.
“The Arms Trade Treaty is the first international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global arms trade,” Mr McCully
says.
“As well as setting down common global standards for trade in conventional weapons, the adoption of the Treaty will also
help prevent illicit arms trade.
“New Zealand has a proud history of taking a leadership role on international disarmament issues. We are committed to
working through the UN system to make the world safer and prevent arms from falling into the wrong hands.
“Throughout the negotiations, New Zealand worked closely with delegations from regions that have suffered from the
uncontrolled flow of arms, including Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
“We will continue to work with like-minded countries and the UN to further disarmament and non-proliferation
initiatives,” Mr McCully says.
The Arms Trade Treaty text will open for signature in June.
ENDS