German arms export ban to S. Arabia remains: FM

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Germany’s arms export ban to Saudi Arabia will remain in place until the end of this month, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Maas said the federal government has decided to extend current ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia until the end of March.

“We have done that also in light of the developments in Yemen. We believe that the war in Yemen must end as soon as possible,” he stressed, criticizing Riyadh’s role in the conflict.

Maas underlined that arms export ban to Saudi Arabia was not limited to any new purchases, but also included a ban on the delivery of already approved weapons sales.

Germany’s top diplomat said the government will closely follow the developments in Yemen and will decide within this month whether or not to extend further the ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition government imposed restrictions to arms sales to Saudi Arabia last year due to Riyadh’s role in the Yemen conflict.

German government further sharpened its tone following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October at his consulate in Istanbul, and halted all arms exports to the country.

However, Germany’s decision was criticized by the U.K. and France, which claimed that Berlin’s arms exports ban also had negative impact on their defense companies, due to various joint projects involving German firms.

Last month, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt asked for exemption for such projects, to enable British companies to fulfill their contracts with Saudi Arabia.

Several Christian Democrat politicians last week spoke against renewing the ban, and argued for a compromise solution that would address expectations of the U.K. and France.