Germany prolongs ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia until end of March

BERLIN, 06 March. - (ANA) - The German government has decided to extend the embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia until the end of March, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday.

"We, in the German government, decided to prolong the embargo on [arms] exports [to Saudi Arabia] until the end of March, we have done that also due to the developments in Yemen," Maas said.

The minister pointed out that Berlin insisted on putting an end to the war in Yemen as soon as possible.

Maas added that earlier permits issued for the German companies to export weapons to Saudi Arabia would also be void until the end of March.

Germany banned weapon sales to Saudi Arabia last fall following the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

On February 20, Maas said that the future decisions on whether to deliver arms to Saudi Arabia would depend on how the conflict develops in Yemen.  - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/06 March 2019 - - -