Country Report from SPAS on the Swedish Arms Trade Report to the ENAAT-Meeting in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, May 2010
Country report from SPAS on the Swedish arms trade Report to the ENAAT-meeting in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 2010. By Pamela Baarman, Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS) The negative trend continues in Sweden regarding arms export; during 2009 Sweden exported arms for over 1,4 billion Euros, according to ISP, the Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls. Never before has Sweden exported more arms than last year - the export has increased with seven per cent in only one year, and has more than quadrupled in the last eight years. This year's high numbers are said to be due to the export of large weapon systems, like the Combat Vehicle 90 to the Netherlands and Denmark, the fighter jet Jas 39 Gripen to South Africa and the radar system Erieye to Pakistan, where the contracts have been signed years ago but the products only now being delivered. What is disappointing is that Sweden continues to export weapons to states of dubious character, where breaches of human rights are frequent. Pakistan was the third largest importer of Swedish arms in 2009, with an import of more than 140 million Euros in 2009. No new contracts are accepted by the ISP to Pakistan today, but the supplemental deliveries continue. SPAS has long been demanding that these supplemental deliveries need to be stopped immediately to all countries where breaches of human rights are frequent, countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately the large export seems to be continuing in the future, even with a new government possibly being elected in September.
[Show full text]