Amnesty International call on countries to sign arms treaty
28/07/2012 - 13:08:21Amnesty International is calling on the US, Russia and China to sign the International Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations next October.
US President Barack Obama yesterday delayed the movement of the treaty which will see greater restrictions on weaponry being distributed around the world - he said he needed more time before agreeing to it.
Over 90 countries, including Ireland, who signed the treaty have refused to accept to any diluted version of it.
Fiona Crowley, research manager with Amnesty International, says it's likely that Mr. Obama did not sign the pact due to influence arising from the powerful arms lobby in the US.
"Certainly there is a domestic lobby against rigorous arms control and of course the USA is, by far, the largest arms exporters.
"There is quite a strong lobby on behalf of the manufacturers but ultimately we had hoped to see the US do the right thing."