Romania signs UN's Arms Trade Treaty, hoping to diminish EUR 60 billion yearly market

Romania was one of the 67 countries which signed the Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations Office in New York. Represented by its permanent representative to the UN Simona Miculescu (in picture), Romania was part of a majority which signed the treaty on the first day, regulating the international trade in conventional arms, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. The US also announced it would sign the treaty on Wednesday. “It will prevent human rights abusers and violators of the law of war from being supplied with arms. And it will help keep warlords, pirates, and gangs from acquiring these deadly tools,” according to the UN. Signing the Treaty has profound implication in helping countries that deal with the arms trade – estimated at some EUR 60 billion a year – to become more responsible, said Romanian Foreign Affairs minister Titus Corlatean. The text of the treaty is here. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: UN)