Themed “Arms Trade Treaty: national and international views”, the workshop is co-organised by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and the UK Embassy in Vietnam.

During the two-day event, participants discussed and shared information to clarify contents that Vietnam can contribute to the ATT process and such issues as the types of weapons to be covered by the ATT, and measures for members to fulfill their responsibility under the ATT.

Delegates from the UN Institute on Disarmament Research and the UK working group on ATT presented issues on UN mechanisms on arms transfer and transfer controls.

Addressing the opening session, Assistant to the Foreign Minister Nguyen Van Thao reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of supporting international efforts toward comprehensive and complete disarmament with high priority given to disarmament of mass destructive weapons.

Vietnam has participated in and seriously fulfilled its obligations under international arms conventions, including the UN Register of Conventional Arms and the Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons, he said.

He went on to say that ATT would be one legally binding instrument regulating state activities with regard to conventional arms.

Kate Harrison, Charge d’Affaires of the UK Embassy, affirmed the ATT is one of the UK Government’s top priorities. If the ATT is approved, it will contribute to binding member countries to strictly implement commitments favourable for the world security through controlling arms trade market and reducing illegal arms trade.

An UN Arms Trade Treaty negotiating conference is scheduled to take place in mid-2012. If approved, the treaty will be a binding document regulating activities of countries in the arms field.