Talks on regulating the world trade in arms have failed

Certain diplomats and supporters of the proposed solutions accused the US of being responsible for the failure of the months-long negotiation process, AP reported.

Hopes that the revised text of the agreement would be adopted were dashed when the deadline for its conclusion expired at midnight. The US said it needed more time to review the document, and Russia and China also requested additional time.

"This is a major cowardice by the administration of President Barack Obama, which at the last minute reversed progress towards a global arms treaty, when we were within reach," said Susan Nosel, Amnesty International's US director.

She reminded that America is the world's largest exporter of conventional weapons, but "pulled the brakes" on the talks just before their historic success.

"Some countries did not like the draft agreement, although the vast majority agreed," complained the chairman of the conference, Argentinean Roberto Garcia Moritan. Representatives of 193 participating countries failed to reach a consensus.

"We will continue to work," Moritan added. But, where and when the work will continue has not been agreed.

A Western diplomat, who did not want to be named, said talks could not resume until after the US presidential election in November.

The chief American negotiator, Thomas Countryman, refused to appear in front of several dozen journalists after the failure of talks held at the UN headquarters.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Noland said after the meeting that the US supports holding the second round of negotiations next year.

The draft agreement envisages that all states establish national regulations related to the control of the transfer of conventional weapons and to regulate the work of arms dealers.

States would be prohibited from supplying arms to embargoed countries or if there was suspicion that they would be used to commit genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

The document states that when approving arms exports, states must assess whether the equipment will be used to violate international humanitarian rights or humanitarian laws, or whether the weapons will be used by terrorists or criminals.

When it comes to the "uncontrolled flood" of weapons, Latin America presents a special problem. And the sad champion in this race is Salvador. According to official studies, you will most easily become a victim of armed violence in that country - followed by Iraq, Jamaica, Honduras, Colombia and Venezuela.

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