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Political Economy

Finland continues to do arms deals with countries criticised for human rights violation

Thursday, 21 March 2013
Finland has been accused of assisting dictators make life of their subjects a misery by selling military hardware to them which are then used to subjugate its armless citizens.
The Finnish media network Yle reports that according to SaferGlobe Finland, the exporting of arms to countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan, countries that are know to be brutal towards its own people poses critical risks.

This comes after the maxim that EU countries should not supply military equipment to nations where their provision could cause or prolong conflicts or exacerbate tensions is not being considered by the Finnish authorities.

In 2011, Finland granted arms export licenses to 25 countries, which according to the EU criteria regarding acceptable export risks fell short. This is according to the Bonn International Centre on Conversion (BICC).

At least one of the EU’s eight-point criteria is critically problematic in all 25 cases, states a 2011 Finnish Arms Export report that was released on Monday, reports Yle.

BICC estimates are based on statistics from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, the Peace Research Institute Oslo, the World Bank and Freedom House.

Embargoes against the export of Finnish defence equipment are set out in accordance with international arms agreements, as well as in line with Finland's foreign and security policy. The export licensing authorities can also decide on arms export matters.
By Scancomark.com Team

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