United Arab Emirates: AssetCo

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 18 May 2011.

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Photo of John Cryer John Cryer Labour, Leyton and Wanstead

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the use of (a) military and (b) other equipment sold to the Government of the United Arab Emirates by AssetCo plc in recent actions in (i) Manama, Bahrain and (ii) other cities or towns in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Alistair Burt Alistair Burt The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

We have seen no evidence that military or other equipment sold by AssetCo plc has been used in Bahrain. We have not seen Emirati forces on the streets in Bahrain and we have seen no evidence that Gulf Co-operation forces have done anything other than safeguard installations. The Government take their arms export responsibilities very seriously, and operate one of the most rigorous arms export control regimes in the world. We do not export equipment where there is a clear risk it could be used for internal repression.

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No2 people think not

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