By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 27 -- The Arms Trade Treaty died Friday at the UN; a group of 90 some nations expressed disappointment at non-agreement on what they called a text with the "overwhelming support of the international community."
The West African states in ECOWAS didn't join in this statement due to its use of the word "overwhelming." They did not support even the rejected text, because it gave in too much to the United States in not fully covering ammunition.
The US had asked for more time, but to be fair, so did other countries. Still, a well-placed negotiator told Inner City Press that "the US team here in New York were working toward signing on, but they were on a branch that got sawed off in Washington."
The largest question asked: who decided to have this negotiation take place during a US election year?
As the final speeches were being given, the Press was barred from the room.
What began with a lot of energy -- well, with a fight about seating Palestine -- ended behind closed doors, only to be referred to the UN General Assembly's First Committee in October. There is could die again, or go outside the UN "like Ottawa," one source said, predicting the US would not sign on there either.
"They won't sign on anywhere," he said. And so it goes at the UN.
Update: and after the failure of the ATT, and hasty interviews in the hall, back in the Conference Room they turned off the lights at six pm, with the room still half full.
"They could take it to Ottawa," a delegate who'd opposed the ATT told Inner City Press.
