MOSCOW, April 23 (RIA Novosti) – Japan’s upper house of parliament, the House of Councillors, unanimously approved Wednesday a bill providing for the country's accession to the UN Arms Trade Treaty, the NHK channel reported.
The Japanese government now expects a fast ratification of the treaty, although no specific date on its implementation has yet been announced.
The Arms Trade Treaty, adopted at the UN General Assembly last year, is the first international pact regulating commerce in conventional arms. The pact was backed by 154 states, including the United States. Three countries voted against the motion and 23 countries abstained, including Russia.
The treaty stipulates that 50 states must ratify it before it comes into force. According to UN data, 31 countries have ratified the treaty so far.
The treaty aims to regulate international trade in conventional weapons, including tanks and armored vehicles, artillery, military aircraft, warships, missiles systems and small arms.
