Germany suspends arms supply to Saudi Arabia
This picture shows a Saudi Arabia flag behind barbed wires at the backyard of the Saudi Arabian consulate on October 11, 2018 in Istanbul. - Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Washington Post contributor, vanished on October 2 after entering the consulate to obtain official documents ahead of his marriage to his Turkish fiancee. Government sources said at the weekend that police believed Khashoggi was killed by a team specially sent to Istanbul, thought to consist of 15 Saudis. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Saudi Arabia to release footage of Jamal Khashoggi and President Donald Trump demanded answers over his fate, as the kingdom faced growing pressure on October 11, 2018 to provide a convincing explanation for his disappearance. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that her country would not supply any weapons to Saudi Arabia until all the circumstances surrounding the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi were determined.
“First, we condemn this work in the strongest possible terms”, Merkel said in a speech at a press conference held as part of her party’s regional campaign, the Christian Democratic Union.
“Secondly, there is an urgent need to reveal what has happened, because we are still far from determining the truth and holding officials accountable”.
“Thirdly, with regard to arms supplies, it cannot be implemented under the current circumstances”, Merkel said.
“Fourth, we will continue to discuss possible responses to this incident at the international level”.
Saudi Arabia faces widespread international pressure over the killing of Khashoggi, who was killed at his consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and was known for his criticism of the kingdom’s policies in many areas.
Saudi Arabia has so far officially announced that initial investigations into Khashoggi’s disappearance showed his “death” as a result of a “clash of hands” caused by a quarrel with people he met at the consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
All of Saudi nationality, recognizing that the journalist was killed by a “security team” whose members exceeded their powers.
A group of Western countries, including France, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, expressed doubts over Saudi Arabia’s interpretations of Khashoggi’s death and demanded, along with the European Union and the United Nations, the Kingdom’s authorities to conduct a thorough, urgent and thorough investigation into the incident.
But later pointed out that he is also not satisfied with Riyadh’s handling of the issue.
The German Chancellor said on Saturday that she did not accept the Saudi version of the incident, arguing that the Kingdom’s explanations were insufficient, while German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called on his government not to ratify any deals about the incident.
The sale of arms to Saudi Arabia until the investigation of the case is completed.
