Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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                                 UN ARMS TREATY

   Iran, Syria and North Korea have blocked the adoption of a U.N. treaty
   to regulate the $70 billion global arms trade.
   Unanimous support was required to adopt the treaty during Thursday`s
   negotiations at the U.N. headquarters. But a coalition of countries
   said they would soon take the bill to the U.N. General Assembly, where
   its passage is expected.
   The treaty would set international standards for the import, export and
   transfer of conventional weapons. It would also strengthen measures to
   ensure arms are not used in human rights abuses or terrorism.
   Iran, Syria and North Korea viewed the draft text as imbalanced,
   politically motivated and insufficient for the needs of their
   countries.
   The United States, the world`s biggest arms exporter, has previously
   opposed certain parts of the treaty. But on Tuesday U.S. diplomats said
   the bill was fair and that Washington looks forward to its quick
   adoption.
   U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon`s office also said it was confident
   the treaty would soon pass. Diplomats say a vote could take place in
   the General Assembly as soon as Tuesday.
   Activists and some governments have been pushing for the global arms
   treaty for over a decade, hoping it will help keep illicit weapons out
   of the hands of terrorists, insurgents and organized crime groups.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-arms-treaty/1630883.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-arms-treaty/1630883.html