Turkey signs UN Arms Trade Treaty

UNITED NATIONS

Ambassador Halit Çevik, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, has signed the treaty on behalf of Turkey.” AA photo

Turkey became the 76th country to sign the landmark U.N. Arms Trade Treaty on July 2.

“Having actively contributed to the process and co-sponsored the resolution, Turkey has on numerous occasions voiced its intention of signing the Treaty as soon as possible. On July 2, Ambassador Halit Çevik, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, has signed the treaty on behalf of Turkey,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The treaty requires countries that ratify it to establish national regulations to control the transfer of conventional arms and components and to regulate arms brokers, but it does not explicitly control the domestic use of weapons in any country.

“For a speedy entry into force and eventual universalization, we expect all states to sign the Treaty and complete their national ratification procedures as soon as possible,” the statement added. The treaty was approved in April with the support of 154 countries’ votes at the U.N. General Assembly.