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Arms Trade Treaty: when diplomacy makes a difference

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Arms Trade Treaty event at the FCO

In my job I am often asked “what difference can diplomacy really make?”.

It is not always an easy question to answer. But, this week at the United Nations in New York, we should see an example of diplomacy making a real, tangible difference – and both Turkey and the UK are involved.

Today the final round of negotiations on a global Arms Trade Treaty will begin at the Arms Trade Treaty Diplomatic Conference from 18-28 March.

If successful, the new Treaty will make a big contribution to the security and prosperity of people around the world, particularly the most vulnerable.

But to be successful the negotiations will require a huge diplomatic effort. It is a top priority for the UK to secure a widely supported, robust Treaty. The British Foreign Secretary highlighted the importance of success when he said: “history will not forgive those who seek to prevent it”.

This new Treaty should:

Getting to this point has not been easy. Negotiations began in June 2012. In November 2012, Turkey was one of 157 states, including the US, China and India, which voted in favour of continuing the negotiations to try and find a solution.

That is why the UK will work with Turkey and other countries to try and agree the strongest possible Treaty in the negotiations starting this week.

A successful Treaty will not solve all the world’s problems overnight. But it will offer us the chance to take a significant step forward and make a better future for millions who live in the shadow of conflict.

So, the next time I am asked what difference diplomacy can make, I hope I am able to point to the Arms Trade Treaty as an example of diplomacy in action.

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