*BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that Berlin wouldnot export arms to Saudi Arabia for now in the wake of dissident journalistJamal Khashoggi´s violent death.*
“I agree with all those who say when it comes to our already limited armsexports (to Saudi Arabia) that they cannot take place in the currentsituation,” she told reporters at her party headquarters.
Her foreign minister, Heiko Maas, had already said on Saturday that hecurrently saw “no basis for decisions in favour of arms exports to SaudiArabia”.
Germany last month approved 416 million euros ($480 million) worth of armsexports to Saudi Arabia for 2018. In the past, military exports by Berlinto Saudi have mostly consisted of patrol boats.
Merkel reiterated that she condemned Khashoggi´s killing “in the strongestterms” and saw an “urgent need to clear up” the case.
“We are far from seeing everything on the table and the perpetrators beingbrought to justice,” she said.
Merkel added that she would continue to consult with international partnersabout a coordinated reaction to the case.
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Germany and Saudi Arabia only returned their ambassadors in September after10 months of frosty relations following criticism from Berlin of what itsaid was Saudi interference in Lebanese affairs.
The Khashoggi case has opened a serious new rift with European partnersBritain, France and Germany saying in a joint statement earlier that SaudiArabia must clarify how Khashoggi died inside its Istanbul consulate, andits account must “be backed by facts to be considered credible”.
After a fortnight of denials, Saudi authorities admitted Saturday thatKhashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and prominent critic of powerfulCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed after entering the consulatein Turkey on October 2.
But it has faced a growing chorus of incredulity over its belatedexplanation that he died in a “brawl”, as world powers demand answers andthe whereabouts of his body. – APP/AFP
