The Swiss parliament has approved an amendment that would allow the sale of Swiss weapons to other countries under certain conditions, even if these weapons can then be re-exported to warring countries, according to a statement on the parliament’s website.
/nginx/o/2021/08/26/14020158t1h2ed0.jpg "Abroad Yesterday, 23:32 The Swiss Parliament supports the amendment of the law that will allow the re-export of weapons 2")
The Swiss parliament has approved an amendment that would allow the sale of Swiss weapons to other countries under certain conditions, even if these weapons can then be re-exported to warring countries, according to a statement on the parliament’s website.
The amendment was adopted with 22 votes “for”, 17 “against” and four deputies abstaining.
Countries that buy Swiss weapons will still have to sign a declaration banning the re-export of arms, but this may be limited to five years. Re-export will be possible to countries that do not violate human rights and do not use weapons against civilians.
Switzerland is a major arms exporter, yet all arms are sold abroad with the standard condition that re-exports must be coordinated with the Swiss authorities.
According to the Military Equipment Act, the Swiss government prohibits deliveries to countries involved in military conflicts.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Bern has banned the supply of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine to three countries – Germany, Spain and Denmark.
Last week, the lower house of the Swiss parliament rejected by a vote of 98 to 75 an amendment that would have allowed for an exception to the Law on Military Equipment, which prohibits the supply of Swiss weapons to belligerent countries.
After the approval of the initiative in the upper house, presumably, the lower house will have to review the amendment again.
