Russia not to join international Arms Trade Treaty

UN, May 17. /TASS/. Russia has made the decision not to join the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), as considers it too weak, head of the Foreign Ministry's department on arms control, Mikhail Ulyanov said on Friday.

"We have decided not to join. With all pros and contras, we see it is not obligatory for us," he said, explaining the treaty is "too weak" though puts "curtain burden on the participants."

Besides, he highlighted the document's provision allowing changes to it, which may be made by voting.

"Nobody can foresee what this treaty will look like in 20 or 30 years," he said.

At the same time, he said, Russia wishes success to the participating countries in implementation of the treaty.

"If they manage to fulfil the provisions regarding establishment of national export control systems, that would be quite a result," he said. "Looking at how other treaties are implemented, it is doubtful this is possible."

The ATT, like "most other agreements" have flaws in the provisions related to its implementation by emerging countries. "That is exactly where those systems [of export control] should be established, since Western Europe, Russia, North Europe and America all have such systems. Thus, we do not have a negative attitude to the treaty, we do not see reasons to join it."

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a multilateral treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons. It entered into force on 24 December 2014. The treaty was signed by 130 and ratified by 67 states. On 2 April 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted the ATT after several years of tense negotiations.