I suppose these are on your boycott list as well?
Posted on 03/20/2003 2:07:17 AM PST by HAL9000
BERN, Switzerland, Mar 20, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Swiss authorities on Thursday imposed a ban on military exports to all countries taking part in the Iraq war.The country's seven-member cabinet decided to apply Switzerland's strict neutrality rules because the U.S.-led attack did not have the backing of the U.N. Security Council, making it "a conflict between nations," said the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
The ban on exports of weapons and other military supplies applies to "countries taking part in the conflict by sending troops or material," said the secretariat. It did not identify the countries concerned.
A total ban applies to exports of government-owned military supplies.
Private manufacturers will be allowed to continue exports. However, they will be required to prove to authorities that the arms and material they sell are not destined to be used in the conflict
The secretariat said it would boost controls to ensure firms respected the ruling.
Last year, Swiss manufacturers exported military material worth 277 million francs (US$199 million), including munitions, guns, tanks and other vehicles. The biggest customers were neighboring Germany and Austria, followed by the United States, Ireland and Britain.
Other customers included Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press, All rights reserved
The Belgiums are denying the US use of port facilities in the middle of operations due to their dislike of the war (locals here think the UN Security Council Vote is International Law and the US is breaking the UN Law, so the arguement goes).
Third Country Sales of US origin military equipment are managed, but now I am starting to see problems in the relationships. Political Leaders have, today, broke agreements and commitments to the US and US Manufacturers for no legal reason.
Future joint ventures, future political relations, and future business in general need to have parameters in binding ink agreements the rights and obligations of all parties. Based on argeements of this nature, we will see and hear less of our "precieved" allies and trade partners denying US rights for overflights, port usage, etc.
The bottom line is that many of the Nations in the world today want to abstain, deny the US rights, to incure some insulation and maintain friendship with outlaw regimes - but they still couch their talk in terms of friendship with the USA (terms like we disagree on this point). The point is that they disagree and therefore act against us and in support of the enemy.
At what point do trading partners like France and Iraq become common allies, and at what point do common allies like the US and France become enemies?
Since when the UN was neutral and was favoring Switzerland's neutrality status? I am aghast at the gutso of the Nazi fund managers.
I suppose these are on your boycott list as well?
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