President

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is the first global, legally binding treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional arms by establishing the highest international standards governing arms transfers and seeking to prevent and eradicate illicit trade and diversion of conventional arms.

Only by the universal establishment and by the effective implementation of the international regulatory system that the ATT establishes will we achieve the final purpose of the Treaty: reducing human suffering, contributing to regional and international peace, security and stability and promoting sustainable development, cooperation, transparency and responsible action in arms transfers.

Although it is a relatively young treaty, in just over six (6) years since it entered into force, it already has over 100 States Parties, and has one of the fastest rates of ratification/participation of any disarmament treaty.

This high rate of participation and the universal implementation of the ATT standards is essential for the effectiveness of the international regulatory system that the ATT establishes.

In that sense, as President-designate of the Sixth Conference of States Parties, I would like to invite you to join our efforts to achieve the Treaty's universalization, to enhance transparency and information sharing and to prevent and eradicate diversion of conventional weapons to the illicit market. These will be the main goals of my Presidency.