THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT REGRETS THAT THE UNITED NATIONS DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE HAS POSTPONED ADOPTION OF THE ARMS TRADE TREATY (ATT)  

The Diplomatic Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) ended yesterday in New York. After a month of intense negotiations, the 193 UN member states failed to agree on new international standards to regulate the global trade in conventional weapons.

 The Mexican government regrets that the international conference, which had created great expectations for many countries and civil society, was unable to adopt an agreement despite the efforts made to achieve the robust arms trade treaty that is needed to address the serious circumstances of many societies on every continent, due to the irresponsible sale and transfer of arms and ammunition.

During the conference's concluding session and on behalf of 87 delegations from all regions, the Mexican delegation called for continued efforts to conclude the treaty negotiations during the next UN General Assembly. Mexico said that important commitments were made in the text proposed by the conference president, which is supported by a majority of the delegations.  The Mexican delegation was committed to reaching an agreement at this conference. It was sensitive to the concerns of other States, conducted discussions with civil society and always presented constructive proposals. In light of the outcome, Mexico regrets that the imposition of work methods claiming to seek "consensus" make it impossible to reach agreement even when there is widespread and clear support, which is nullified because of the opposition of a minority of States.

Despite not having adopted a treaty, Mexico wishes to emphasize that the conference made substantial progress on a draft text that should be improved and strengthened, using working methods that States establish during the General Assembly. The Mexican government will continue to give utmost importance to this issue and will continue to work with like-minded States, as it did during the conference and its preparatory meetings.

Mexico will continue to contribute to reaching the UN treaty needed by the international community: a robust and effective treaty that prohibits the transfer of conventional weapons when there is the risk that they will be used to commit serious violations of international law and that establishes mechanisms to prevent their diversion to the illicit market.