Government must tackle loopholes in Burma arms embargo - Moore

1.54.02pm GMT Mon 16th Jul 2007

Commenting on a joint Saferworld and Amnesty International report which suggests that British military components could be sold to the military junta in Burma in contradiction of the European arms embargo, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Moore MP said:

"The European Union has rightly imposed an arms embargo on the barbaric military junta in Burma, but this report highlights what appear to be serious flaws in arms export controls which threaten to undermine such embargoes.

"The Government must urgently address loopholes which allow British military components to be re-exported by third party countries and ought to use the current review of the Export Control Act as an opportunity to establish robust end-use monitoring of arms sales.

"Internationally, the Government must put itself at the heart of efforts to establish a robust Arms Trade Treaty and should use its influence to bring key states such as the United States and China on board."