Summary First EU country to ratify treaty that bans arms supply to countries with HR abuse record.
ROME (AFP) - US President Barack Obama s administration on Wednesday signed a landmark UN treaty regulating the $90 billion conventional arms trade, offering a major boost to the pact despite opposition at home.
The United States is the world s largest exporter of conventional arms. The treaty would set up greater international guidelines to prevent the export to conflict areas and extremists.
Secretary of State John Kerry, signing on behalf of the United States in an oversized book at the UN headquarters, called the treaty a "significant step" for global peace efforts.
"This is about keeping weapons out of the hands of terrorists and rogue actors," Kerry said after signing the Arms Trade Treaty in front of UN officials.
"This treaty strengthens our security and builds global security without undermining the legitimate international trade in conventional arms," he said.
Kerry devoted much of his comments to assuaging concerns inside the United States, where the weapons industry holds significant political sway.
Italy s parliament on Wednesday ratified the UN s Arms Trade Treaty, which is intended to stop arms supplies to countries at war or that abuse human rights.
The treaty was adopted by the United Nations in April to regulate the $80 billion (59 billion euros) annual trade in conventional arms and stop supplies to states where they could be used for human rights abuses.
"It is a great result," said Silvana Amati, a senator from the left-wing Democratic Party.
Amati said Italy could be "a driving force within the European Union, seeing as at least 50 countries need to ratify the treaty for it to enter into force."
Only four other UN members have ratified so far, and Italy is the first European Union state to do so.
Italy is the eighth biggest arms exporter in the world, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which keeps detailed data.
Its handguns, high-precision artillery systems and attack helicopters are particularly prized, and it has in the past supplied arms to deposed Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The treaty has no automatic enforcement but seeks to contain the weapons industry within accepted boundaries.
The treaty, which has been years in the making, was adopted only after tough negotiations at the United Nations.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to sign the treaty later Wednesday, according to a US official, in a move that could help the West push Russia to curtail arms sales to Syria.
