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Arms Trade Treaty secretariat to take up offices in Geneva

Xinhua, August 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced on Thursday that the Swiss city would host the new permanent secretariat of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said in a statement that "Switzerland will support the installation in Geneva and will take part in the implementation of the treaty."

He also saluted "the clarifications made on the decision-making process which will enable progress to be made and avoid blockages as much as possible."

In force since December 2014, the ATT is a multilateral treaty regulating the international trade of conventional weapons ranging from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft, and warships.

The treaty, which has been ratified by 72 states and signed by 130, held its first conference of state parties in Cancun, Mexico between Aug. 24 and 27, during which Geneva was chosen as the secretariat's new base.

FDFA indicated that the secretariat would likely take up its offices by the end of the year, and that the confederation would provide appropriate office space for at least four years.

It furthermore indicated that it would finance logistical and administrative services while providing rent-free conference facilities. Endit