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The Fourth and final Preparatory Committee for an Arms Trade Treaty opens in New York on 13 February for one week. Intended for procedural matters only for the Diplomatic Conference (2-27 July 2012), it remains to be seen whether substance will be addressed directly or indirectly. What will be the status of the Chair's paper at the Diplomatic Conference? Is there enough political will--and enough drafting time--to get a serious Arms Trade Treaty in July? Are there secret drafts among some or all of the P5 Security Council members? What access will the NGOs be granted to the negotiations? We will get an insight into some of these questions at the final Prepcom but probably not all...
