Bluezoo
04-15-2005, 11:11 AM
EU Lawmakers Renew Support for China Arms Ban
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, STRASBOURG
The European Parliament on April 14 renewed its opposition to European Union (EU) plans to drop a 16-year-old ban on arms sales to China, citing concerns over Beijing’s human rights and democracy record.
In a resolution, the EU assembly said it “regrets that relations with China have made progress only in the trade and economic fields, without any substantial achievements as regards human rights and democracy issues.”
They urged EU governments “not to lift the arms embargo and to find ways to facilitate dialogue, defuse tension and encourage disarmament in cross-strait relations, supporting Taiwan as a model of democracy for the whole of China.”
Despite U.S. and Japanese opposition, the EU until recently has been moving toward lifting the arms sales ban that it slapped on China after the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Led by France and Germany, European leaders last December asked foreign ministers to draft an accord on removing the embargo by the end of June.
But support for its lifting has waned.....
For the full story, go to:
http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=785846&C=europe
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, STRASBOURG
The European Parliament on April 14 renewed its opposition to European Union (EU) plans to drop a 16-year-old ban on arms sales to China, citing concerns over Beijing’s human rights and democracy record.
In a resolution, the EU assembly said it “regrets that relations with China have made progress only in the trade and economic fields, without any substantial achievements as regards human rights and democracy issues.”
They urged EU governments “not to lift the arms embargo and to find ways to facilitate dialogue, defuse tension and encourage disarmament in cross-strait relations, supporting Taiwan as a model of democracy for the whole of China.”
Despite U.S. and Japanese opposition, the EU until recently has been moving toward lifting the arms sales ban that it slapped on China after the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Led by France and Germany, European leaders last December asked foreign ministers to draft an accord on removing the embargo by the end of June.
But support for its lifting has waned.....
For the full story, go to:
http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=785846&C=europe