Irish Presidency
Minister Costello is signing the Treaty in the presence of UN Under Secretary General for Legal Affairs, Patricia O’Brien and UN High Representative for Photo: Ministry for trade and development , Dublin Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane
Setting an example for other nations
Ireland signs the Arms Trade Treaty and the EU updates the UN on its “Post 2015 Agenda” by Nannette Cazaubon, Paris On 3 June 2013, the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., signed the Arms Trade Treaty on behalf of Ireland at the United Nations in New York and updated top UN officials on the EU’s approach to the post 2015 agenda, the negotiations on a new international development framework.
1. Landmark Arms Trade Treaty The document was agreed in April 2013 as a result of over six years of negotiations. The Minister described the Treaty as “historic” and “a milestone in global arms control”, and pledged support for its implementation. With this national act Ireland, which currently holds the EU Presidency, set an example that should encourage other Member States of the Union to quickly sign and ratify the treaty which will enter into force 90 days after 50 states have signed and ratified it. The Arms Trade Treaty is the first legally binding instrument to regulate the international trade in conventional weapons. States signing up to the Treaty are prohibited from exporting arms to countries if they know that those weapons will be used to commit gross violations of human rights. The Arms Trade Treaty also obliges states to take steps in order to ensure that
the weapons they export are not sold on the illegal arms market. Speaking at the UN, Minister Costello described the Treaty as a “strong, robust and comprehensive instrument” that “will reduce human suffering and save lives” when fully implemented. The Minister paid tribute to the important role played by civil society in supporting and developing the Treaty, which he described as “a triumph for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) activists and the indispensable role which they play” as well as an achievement by states.
2. EU approach to development policy While in New York, Minister Castello, on behalf of the EU Presidency, updated top UN officials on the European Union’s approach to the post 2015 agenda, the negotiations on a new agreement to succeed the Millennium Development Goals. The agreement on a unified EU position for post 2015 was reached end of May 2013 at a Council meeting in Brussels. A unified position means that the EU, delivering over 50% of global official development assistance to developing countries, will speak with far greater authority in these crucial post 2015 negotiations.
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