Activist group wants all weapons exports to end

Dubai: For the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) all UK arms exports should be stopped. "We would like to see an end to UK participation in arms fairs in the region and an end to UK government support and subsidies for arms sales," CAAT spokesperson Kaye Stearman said.

"Current sales break the UK government's own criteria for arms exports — i.e. they should not be sold to undemocratic and abusive regimes, to countries where they are likely to be used for internal repression, to areas of conflict or tension, or to countries with pressing social needs," she said. According to a report by the European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT), the EU recorded a record of €40 billion (Dh202.5 billion) of arms exports in 2009. The UK exported €3.5 billion (Dh17.7 billion), while Italy sold €6.7 billion (Dh33.9 billion).

Over €9.6 billion (Dh48.6 billion)-worth of arms export licences were issued to the Middle East from European countries. The report notes that there is a "severe and relevant" lack of information from UK and German governments.