67 countries sign UN Arms Trade Treaty

The United Nations International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was signed by 67 countries on the first day of its opening to signature, excluding the US, which stated it would sign the treaty soon. The treaty was approved in UN General Assembly by 154 countries with the aim of regulating the international arms trade in April, 2013 and opened for signature on Monday. On the first day of its opening to signature, 67 countries signed the treaty. US, the largest exporter of weapons in the world, said it would sign the treaty soon, while Turkey will sign after the internal process has been completed. US Secretary of State John Kerry said they would sign the treaty following the completion of procedures; however, the process of approving the treaty in US Senate seems to be difficult as the National Rifle Association, a powerful US lobbying group, which opposed the treaty from the beginning, pledged to work towards blocking the treaty at the US Congress. The treaty will take effect 90 days after 50 nations ratify it domestically. There are concerns over the application of the treaty as Russia, China, India and 20 other countries abstained in the April vote, UN diplomats said. The treaty will require the approving countries to establish national regulations to control transfer of conventional arms and weapon parts as well as regulating arms brokers.