International pact to control illegal arms trade finally signed

Al Qarra - On Monday the first internationally binding agreement to control trade in illegal arms was signed by 62 countries. The deal was made at the U.N. in New York. Signing countries included the U.K., France and Germany. The United States, the world's biggest arms exporter and producer, is expected to sign later this year.

A statement from the U.S. reassured that the treaty would not affect citizens’ right to bear arms, as the National Rifle Association, a powerful lobby, has suggested.

First introduced seven years ago, the treaty prohibits ratifying states from transferring conventional weapons to countries where they will be implicated in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.