Iran, north Korea and Syria block UN arms treaty

Iran, North Korea and Syria have blocked adoption of a UN arms treaty on the last day of the UN Arms Trade Treaty negotiations conference. On the last day of the conference, Chairman Peter Woolcott ordered a break after protests form Iran and North Korea. After the break representatives from Iran, North Korea and Syria declared that they do not accept the UN arms treaty. The text of the first international treaty on arms trade needs support from all 193 UN member states for its approval. Kenya read a statement on behalf of 12 states including Britain and the US, calling on the UN General Assembly to adopt the Treaty by vote as soon as possible. The United Nations (UN) Arms Trade Treaty negotiations which began in New York on March 18 ended on Thursday. Representatives of 193 countries joined the negotiations.