Swiss sale of M113 APC to the United Arab Emirate

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Swiss sale of M113 APC to the United Arab Emirate; which will in turn present them to Iraq
Tweet Topic Started: Jul 2 2005, 10:52 AM (1,145 Views)
spiderweb6969	Jul 2 2005, 10:52 AM Post #1
Posts: 2,700 Group: Elite Member #427 Joined: April 11, 2005	Swiss Personnel Carriers to Go to Iraq (Source: Swiss Information Service; issued June 29, 2005) The cabinet has approved the sale of 180 armoured personnel carriers to the United Arab Emirates, which will in turn present them to Iraq. The move has attracted criticism from the main political parties in Switzerland, which say the sale damages the principle of neutrality. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) justified the decision by saying that Switzerland, like other countries, had "an interest in ensuring that the situation in Iraq stabilised as soon as possible". However, this was only possible when Iraqi security forces were adequately equipped to protect themselves. The M113 tanks have a value of SFr12 million ($9.4 million) and are part of a Swiss army surplus. They are in good condition, added Seco in a statement. As further justification, it cited a United Nations’ resolution from last year, which called on UN members to help Iraq to preserve law and order. This meant that the latest sale circumvented the international embargo. The rightwing Swiss People’s Party and the leftwing Social Democrats said that the move was contrary to neutrality. People’s Party spokesman Simon Glauser said that it was not possible that Switzerland was delivering weapons to a country, in which it had been trying to establish peace for years. Social Democrat Nicolas Gallade said that the export went against Swiss development policy. The party said in a statement: "If the cabinet approves weapons export to crisis and war-ridden regions such as South Korea, India, Iraq and Pakistan, that means that Switzerland can practically export weapons to any other country." However, the Christian Democrats and Radicals accepted the government’s argument that Switzerland had an interest in stabilising the situation in Iraq. At the same time, Seco announced that arms exports would be making their way to India, Pakistan and South Korea. In 1998 Switzerland decided not to export arms to the South Asian countries in the light of their attempts to assemble an atom bomb. However, should they fulfil certain criteria, exports may take place, said Seco. It added that South Korea posed no danger to international or regional security and that the delivery of 50-100 heads for heat-seeking missiles was therefore unproblematic. -ends- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Decisions of the Federal Council on Export of Military Equipment (Source: SECO Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs; issued June 29, 2005) (Issued in French and German; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com) BERN, Switzerland --- During today’s sitting, the Federal Council made three decisions regarding the export of military equipment to Iraq, India, Pakistan and South Korea. It authorized the relevant department of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to approve certain export applications already submitted, and to give a positive initial response to other, preliminary applications. 1. Regarding Iraq, 180 M-113 armored personnel carriers worth about 12 million Swiss francs must first be exported to the United Arab Emirates, which will in turn donate them to the Iraqi government. Iraq constantly suffers terrorist attacks on its police and military installations, and on civilian targets. It is in Switzerland’s interests that the situation in Iraq be stabilized as quickly as possible. That will however not be possible unless Iraq’s new security forces are equipped with appropriate defensive means. The M-113s, which are currently surplus to Swiss requirements and are in good condition, can be useful. The U.N. Security Council has requested member countries, by Resolution n° 1546 on June 8, 2004, to assist the Iraqi government to establish effective police, border surveillance and installation protection forces to maintain public order and security, which includes anti-terrorism activities. By the same resolution, it also specifically authorized the provision of armaments to the Iraqi government. Neither Switzerland nor the UAE are thus contravening international embargo measures by exporting these vehicles. 2. Following nuclear tests by India and Pakistan in June 1998, the Federal Council had decided that it would no longer approve any request to export military equipment to those two countries. It has today re-enacted normal procedures governing the export of military equipment. The Federal Council today authorized SECO, which processes export authorisations for military equipment, to affect the following acts: --Regarding India, it may respond positively to a preliminary request to grant a production licence for the manufacture of 35mm anti-aircraft guns, and to supply components, for a value of 300 million Swiss francs over five years. --Regarding Pakistan, it may approve a request by- a broker to negotiate the sale to Pakistan of 736 M-113 armored personnel carriers (with spare parts). The sale price, which is to be negotiated, should amount to about 40 million Swiss francs. These vehicles would be used exclusively for United Nations interventions in countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo, Burundi and later Sudan. In crisis areas, protective missions by UN troops play a particularly important role. Deployed Pakistani troops have not previously been able to satisfactorily prosecute such missions because of their lack of suitable equipment. The quality of their intervention in these countries will be significantly improved by Swiss Army surplus M-113s. 3. Regarding South Korea, the issue is the temporary import and re-export, for maintenance work, of 50 to 100 warheads for Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, for a maximum value of 2.5 million Swiss francs. The Federal Council bases its positive decision on the fact that this country does not threaten international security, not regional stability, that it has a constructive attitude towards the international community and that several European countries already supply it with military equipment. (…/…) Finally, one of the major arguments in favour of this approval is that this order provides the company involved the opportunity to use and develop its vast know-how in the maintenance of Sidewinder missiles, which are also operated by the Swiss armed forces. As such, it conforms to the goal set out in Article 1 of the law governing military exports: ensuring that Switzerland maintains an industrial capability suited to its defense needs. -ends-



Wushu	Jul 18 2005, 09:46 AM Post #2
Member Posts: 607 Group: Regulars Member #494 Joined: June 24, 2005	earlier reported that it was for free.... but apparently uae buys, then donates them to iraq..... 180 Swiss M113s to Iraq via UAE The Swiss cabinet has approved the sale of 180 armored personnel carriers to the United Arab Emirates, which will in turn present them to Iraq. The M113 "Gavin" Armored Personnel Carriers have a value of SFR 12 million (USD $9.4 million) and are part of a Swiss army surplus. They are in good condition. As DID has reported, they will join 77 refurbished T-72 tanks from Hungary as the Iraqis move to build up an armored division. While the move has attracted criticism from other political parties in Switzerland on the basis of neutrality, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) justified the decision by saying that Switzerland, like other countries, had "an interest in ensuring that the situation in Iraq stabilised as soon as possible" and noted that this was only possible when Iraqi security forces were adequately equipped to protect themselves. As further justification, it cited a United Nations' resolution from last year, which called on UN members to help Iraq to preserve law and order. This meant that the latest sale circumvented the international embargo. Swiss Information Service (June 30/05)



saver111	Jul 18 2005, 11:09 AM Post #3
PDFF Moderator Posts: 10,625 Group: PDFF Mod Group Member #408 Joined: March 23, 2005	http://s3.invisionfree.com/Defense_Philipp...?showtopic=1680
	Justice for Daniel Lorenz Jacinto HELP END PIRACY NOW!: http://www.itfseafarers.org/petition.cfm


israeli	Jul 19 2005, 02:16 PM Post #4
Posts: 3,069 Group: Elite Member #22 Joined: July 13, 2004	goodness. look at how much perks the Iraqis are getting from many countries. sooner or later, the Yanks might decide to just "donate" all of the F-16s that are lying in the Arizona desert to Iraq to form the "Iraqi Air Force". oooppppssss... hik!
	"To secure peace is to prepare for war." - Carl Von Clausewitz


israeli	Aug 27 2005, 12:29 AM Post #5
Posts: 3,069 Group: Elite Member #22 Joined: July 13, 2004	http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.htm...y=1124207017000 Swiss demand guarantees for Iraq-bound tanks swissinfo August 16, 2005 3:52 PM Economics Minister Joseph Deiss has insisted armoured vehicles will only be delivered to Iraq once guarantees exist that they will be used for civilian purposes. Deiss gave reassurances to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday following Swiss media reports that the Americans wanted the tanks to be given to the Iraqi army. The majority of the parliamentary committee accepted Deiss's point of view and voted not to stop the sale by 13 votes to 10, with two abstentions. "One can't be neutral against terror," said Edi Engelberger, the committee's president. Although the Swiss government has approved the sale of 180 M113 armoured personnel carriers, none has yet been delivered. The tanks are to be sold to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which intends to pass them on to Iraq. Final authorisation is still lacking after the July attacks on London triggered new fears and fanned the debate regarding Swiss neutrality. The Basler Zeitung newspaper reported at the weekend that the tanks would not be used in the police force, as originally intended, but would instead be used in the Iraqi army tank division, at the alleged request of the United States. The government approved the export on June 29 but has yet to issue a legally binding export certificate, the economics ministry said last month. It said that after it became known that the UAE would hand the 180 armoured personnel carriers over to the Iraqi government as a gift, a so-called end-user declaration was required, formally acknowledging that this was the case. The Baghdad government must now confirm that the tanks are indeed bound for Iraq. The government-owned Ruag armaments group, which is selling the tanks, is required to submit an end-user declaration to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). Seco said the US, as the personnel carriers' country of manufacture, must confirm that it approves the deal. No tanks News of the planned sale provoked a mixed political reaction at the end of June. The rightwing Swiss People's Party and the centre-left Social Democrats said that the move was contrary to neutrality and against Swiss development policy. But the centre-right Christian Democrats and Radicals accepted the government's argument that Switzerland had an interest in stabilising the situation in Iraq. Criticism of the sale gained further momentum after the suicide bomb attacks in London on July 7, which killed at least 53 people and injured more than 700. Opponents claimed that the delivery of tanks to Iraq could make Switzerland a target for Islamic terrorists. However, Deiss has denied that the risk would be any higher. He said that the government would continue with the sale. Albert Stahel, a leading security expert, told swissinfo in an earlier interview that the risk of an attack by Islamic extremists on Switzerland remains very small. But he said that some members of terrorist groups were able to use the country's financial institutions to deposit money. Stahel said the government could use the armoured vehicles for the protection of foreign embassies in Switzerland instead of selling them to other countries. (p.s.: funny thing about the article is that the author called the M113s "tanks" )
	"To secure peace is to prepare for war." - Carl Von Clausewitz


saver111	Aug 27 2005, 12:08 PM Post #6
PDFF Moderator Posts: 10,625 Group: PDFF Mod Group Member #408 Joined: March 23, 2005	Quote: (p.s.: funny thing about the article is that the author called the M113s "tanks" drink.gif PAlol.gif ) Not only that,insisted armoured vehicles will only be delivered to Iraq once guarantees exist that they will be used for civilian purposes. M113s for civilian use? They should have sold ambulances, firetrucks and tractors instead.
	Justice for Daniel Lorenz Jacinto HELP END PIRACY NOW!: http://www.itfseafarers.org/petition.cfm


israeli	Aug 27 2005, 12:12 PM Post #7
Posts: 3,069 Group: Elite Member #22 Joined: July 13, 2004	M113s for "civilian" use? damn! is that a joke?
	"To secure peace is to prepare for war." - Carl Von Clausewitz


GKB02	Aug 27 2005, 12:25 PM Post #8
Member Posts: 423 Group: Regulars Member #428 Joined: April 17, 2005	using it for ambulance purposes makes some sense.. cgura pati mga ambulance sa iraq tinitira ng mga insurgents
	Golden Knight Battalion


pantherscout78	Aug 28 2005, 04:03 PM Post #9
Member Posts: 104 Group: Regulars Member #303 Joined: January 20, 2005	israeli Aug 27 2005, 12:29 AM http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.htm...y=1124207017000 Swiss demand guarantees for Iraq-bound tanks swissinfo August 16, 2005 3:52 PM Economics Minister Joseph Deiss has insisted armoured vehicles will only be delivered to Iraq once guarantees exist that they will be used for civilian purposes. Deiss gave reassurances to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday following Swiss media reports that the Americans wanted the tanks to be given to the Iraqi army. The majority of the parliamentary committee accepted Deiss's point of view and voted not to stop the sale by 13 votes to 10, with two abstentions. "One can't be neutral against terror," said Edi Engelberger, the committee's president. Although the Swiss government has approved the sale of 180 M113 armoured personnel carriers, none has yet been delivered. The tanks are to be sold to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which intends to pass them on to Iraq. Final authorisation is still lacking after the July attacks on London triggered new fears and fanned the debate regarding Swiss neutrality. The Basler Zeitung newspaper reported at the weekend that the tanks would not be used in the police force, as originally intended, but would instead be used in the Iraqi army tank division, at the alleged request of the United States. The government approved the export on June 29 but has yet to issue a legally binding export certificate, the economics ministry said last month. It said that after it became known that the UAE would hand the 180 armoured personnel carriers over to the Iraqi government as a gift, a so-called end-user declaration was required, formally acknowledging that this was the case. The Baghdad government must now confirm that the tanks are indeed bound for Iraq. The government-owned Ruag armaments group, which is selling the tanks, is required to submit an end-user declaration to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). Seco said the US, as the personnel carriers' country of manufacture, must confirm that it approves the deal. No tanks News of the planned sale provoked a mixed political reaction at the end of June. The rightwing Swiss People's Party and the centre-left Social Democrats said that the move was contrary to neutrality and against Swiss development policy. But the centre-right Christian Democrats and Radicals accepted the government's argument that Switzerland had an interest in stabilising the situation in Iraq. Criticism of the sale gained further momentum after the suicide bomb attacks in London on July 7, which killed at least 53 people and injured more than 700. Opponents claimed that the delivery of tanks to Iraq could make Switzerland a target for Islamic terrorists. However, Deiss has denied that the risk would be any higher. He said that the government would continue with the sale. Albert Stahel, a leading security expert, told swissinfo in an earlier interview that the risk of an attack by Islamic extremists on Switzerland remains very small. But he said that some members of terrorist groups were able to use the country's financial institutions to deposit money. Stahel said the government could use the armoured vehicles for the protection of foreign embassies in Switzerland instead of selling them to other countries. (p.s.: funny thing about the article is that the author called the M113s "tanks" ) what? they gotta be kidding! presuming for the sake of argument that it shall be used for police work, I mean APC's against criminals like pickpocketers, holdappers, etc. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!! Nagpapatawa ata sila.. Sa amin nyp na lang benta yan, pasalamat pa kami



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