Foreign Minister Tuomioja to attend the UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will take part in the UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty to be held in New York from 18 to 28 March. The purpose of the Conference is to conclude a comprehensive and legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. The Conference follows the first Conference of last July, which ended without reaching an agreement.

The Arms Trade Treaty aims at regulating legal arms trade aiming also indirectly to reduce illegal trade and human suffering caused by irresponsible arms trade.

The conclusion of an Arms Trade Treaty is a primary objective for Finland. Finland is one of the seven co-authors of the UN Treaty. Finland is working actively to promote progress in the negotiations together with the Nordic countries, other UN and EU Member States and civil society.