Brasil assina Tratado sobre o Comércio de Armas

Em cerimônia realizada hoje na sede das Nações Unidas em Nova York, o Brasil – juntamente com mais de 60 países – assinou o Tratado sobre o Comércio de Armas.

O Brasil participou ativamente do processo de negociação desse tratado desde seus primeiros momentos, apoiando a adoção de um instrumento internacional juridicamente vinculante que regulamentasse as transferências internacionais de armas convencionais, com o objetivo de reduzir a possibilidade de que tais armas sejam desviadas para o mercado ilícito – evitando, portanto, que contribuam para conflitos internos e alimentem a violência armada.

Na solenidade de hoje, o Representante Permanente do Brasil junto à Conferência do Desarmamento, o Embaixador Antonio José Vallim Guerreiro proferiu o seguinte discurso:

(versão em português a ser divulgada oportunamente)

“Madam High Representative,

Brazil is pleased to take part in this Special Event and to sign the Arms Trade Treaty on the very day of its opening for signature.

Today we celebrate the culmination of a process that formally started seven years ago when the idea of an Arms Trade Treaty was first introduced on the agenda of the United Nations. Even before that, Brazil was already one of the pioneering countries to express at the highest level its support for such a multilateral initiative. My country actively participated in the ATT process throughout its different stages, always committed to the goal of a legally binding instrument that would regulate the legitimate trade of conventional arms and provide effective tools to prevent that these arms be diverted to the illicit market.

By requiring States to implement legal and administrative measures to enforce national control over international transfers of conventional arms and to improve their decision-making process with regard to authorizations of such transfers, the ATT constitutes an important contribution for the protection of civilian populations in conflict situations, for the prevention of international conflicts and for the reduction of urban armed violence.

For Brazil, the ATT represents therefore a milestone in our quest for a more peaceful and secure world. We would like to express our deep appreciation to all States that have participated in the treaty's deliberations and negotiations, to international civil society organizations and representatives, for their brave and wholehearted engagement in promoting the instrument, as well as for Ambassadors Roberto García-Moritán of Argentina and Peter Woolcott of Australia for the key roles they played during this seven-year process. Each one was instrumental in order to make this aspiration come true.

In implementing the ATT at the international, regional and national levels, Brazil is fully committed to ensure that balanced, objective and non-discriminatory approaches prevail as well as that international cooperation and assistance hold a central role in every effort.

We certainly do not believe that the ATT, as it stands now, is a finished task. Brazil considers that the Treaty could have been stronger and more effective if it had comprised a clear prohibition of arms transfers to unauthorized non-State actors; if it had required end use/end user certificates for all transfers; and if ammunitions had been unequivocally included in the Treaty's scope. While we believe there is room for future efforts at improving the Treaty, we acknowledge that the current text of the ATT helps fill an important gap in International Law, and constitutes an auspicious step towards the promotion of international peace and security.

The adoption of this Treaty and its opening for signature also sends a clear message about the effectiveness of multilateral disarmament and arms control diplomacy, despite the skepticism that seems to prevail in some quarters about the virtues of negotiation and compromise that are inherent to any exercise of this nature. We have seen that, with patience and resilience, the international community is able to deliver multilateral concrete results on important contemporary issues.

Finally, Mr. President, Brazil reiterates the importance of an ATT being truly universal, so as to avoid loopholes and the perpetuation of unregulated trade. To that end, we encourage all delegations that are not represented here today to consider signing the Treaty as soon as possible.

I thank you."