Jeff Abramson, Director of the Control Arms Secretariat said:
“While ordinary civilians are being butchered on a daily basis, Russia appears to be continuing its deadly business with the regime of Bashar al-Assad. This must come to an end.
“We need to stop this terrible pipeline by agreeing on an international treaty to regulate the arms trade. The negotiations this July of the Arms Trade Treaty offer us the chance to put global rules on international weapons trade. It cannot come sooner as every day, the world wakes up to more tales of horror from Syria, where arms are being used against innocent civilians. We have the chance to change this situation with the Arms Trade Treaty.
“Yesterday, US Ambassador Susan Rice said that although not technically a violation of international law, the alleged shipment of weapons to the regime was ‘reprehensible’. It’s beyond reprehensible. It’s her duty and that of other world leaders to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty that would prevent this sort of tragedy.”
Control Arms is a global movement that campaigns for a legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty that will protect lives and livelihoods. Control Arms is comprised of more than 85 member organizations and coalitions representing more than 100 countries.
