The Swiss government announced that it is “temporarily halted arms shipments to the UAE” after a newspaper published a photograph indicating a Swiss-made grenade was found with Syria rebels.
Switzerland says it hasn't exported arms to Syria since 1997-1998.
It says the photo showed a grenade made by the Swiss company RUAG.
Besides, of course hand grenades the RUAG Group is an international aerospace and defence technology company with production sites in Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Hungary and the United States. It currently generates more than half of its net sales — 53% — outside the Swiss domestic market. Innovative products and services of outstanding quality form the basis of RUAG’s worldwide success. RUAG thus invests around 8% of its revenues in research and development. It collaborates closely with international technology partners including Airbus, ASML, Astrium, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault, the European Space Agency (ESA), Hilti, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall.
The grenade supposedly came from a 2003 shipment of 225, 216 grenades to the UAE, which signed a declaration pledging not to "re-export" the weapons.
The current focus of the investigation is on licenses for arms shipments in Switzerland.
According to ABC News, “the government said Friday that the joint panel started work on Tuesday and it has “lifted a block on licenses for arms shipments that were already issued.”
ABC also reported that "pending license applications are to remain suspended until further notice”(see article: Swiss, UAE Set up Panel on Syria Grenade Report http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/swiss-uae-set-panel-syria-grenade-report-16819336 ).
Which probably is not such a bad idea given the circumstances of the situation…
Interestingly the Syrian government has been claiming all along that Syrian rebels are getting external aid and support and the UAE.
Now we have independent confirmation that the UAE is also supporting the Syrian rebels with deadly hand grenades.
The UAE has not made any public comments in this matter.
Robert Tilford
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