German Party Sues Government on Saudi Tank Deal
\nAGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE – Published: 1 Aug 2011 08:02<\/p>\n
BERLIN – Germany’s opposition Green party is taking the government to court over a reported secret deal to sell hundreds of tanks to Saudi Arabia, a party spokeswoman said Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
“A suit brought by the members of parliament Christian Stroebele, Claudia Roth and Katja Keul was filed on Friday” with the Constitutional Court, the spokeswoman added.<\/p>\n
The Greens, who oppose the reported deal, have asked the court to rule on whether the government is entitled to grant an export license for the tanks without informing parliament.<\/p>\n
Press reports recently suggested that Saudi Arabia would be buying 200 Leopard-2s, Germany’s main battle tank, which is also produced under license in Spain, for a multibillion-euro sum.<\/p>\n
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her government have refused to comment on the reports, saying such matters are confidential and decided by the federal security council, a panel that rules on arms exports and is chaired by the chancellor.<\/p>\n
“Deliberation and decisions by the federal security council are secret for good reason,” Merkel has told the press.<\/p>\n
For decades, Germany has declined to sell such heavy weapons to Saudi Arabia because of concerns over human rights and fears for Israel’s security.<\/p>\n
Opposition politicians and even some members of Merkel’s ruling center-right coalition have slammed the reported tank sale, particularly in light of pro-democracy uprisings throughout the Middle East. …source<\/a><\/p>\n