Several EU member states have failed to uphold their obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty by exporting arms to Saudi Arabia and supporting the kingdom's war in Yemen, Amnesty International Deputy Director for Arms Control and Human Rights Ara Marcen Naval said in a news release on Monday
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 13th May, 2019) Several EU member states have failed to uphold their obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty by exporting arms to Saudi Arabia and supporting the kingdom's war in Yemen, Amnesty International Deputy Director for Arms Control and Human Rights Ara Marcen Naval said in a news release on Monday."Laden with arms that will likely be used in the war in Yemen, the Bahri Yanbu has been bouncing off European ports like a pinball," Naval said. "This is a serious test of EU countries' resolve to uphold their obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and EU Common Position on Arms Exports. Several states have failed this test in the space of just a few days."
The Saudi ship Bahri Yanbu, which set sail from Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 2, reportedly loaded munitions and arms in Belgium and France, and is scheduled to stop in Genoa, Italy, on May 16, the release said.
Naval pointed out that no EU member state should authorize the transfer or transit of arms to a conflict where there is a risk the arms will be used in war crimes and other violations of international law.
EU member states issued at least 607 licenses worth close to $18 billion to Saudi Arabia in 2016, according to the bloc's own reporting on arms exports.
Yemen has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the government forces led by President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthi rebels. A Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out strikes against the Houthis at Hadi's request. The conflict has resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
