Euro-MP comments on “arms for peace” scandal
October 22, 2002 12:00 AM
A West Midlands Euro-MP is has attacked Tony Blair after it was revealed that he had used Kashmir peace talks as an opportunity to lobby the Indian Prime Minister on a deal to sell him fighter planes.
Tony Blair had urged the Indian prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to complete an order of Hawk jets during peace talks held at Chequers last weekend, on behalf of BAE Systems.
Liz Lynne MEP, who is Vice President of the European Parliament’s All Party Intergroup on Kashmir, commented:
“While tensions between India and Pakistan remain high and the question over Kashmir remains unresolved, it is inappropriate for the British government to sell weapons to either side. Tony Blair has demonstrated a shocking lack of moral scruples in using these talks as an opportunity to peddle fighter planes.”
Downing Street Officials have claimed that Hawk jets are only training aircraft.
“It is insulting to hear a Labour administration peddle this line years after identical claims made by the previous Conservative administration had been demolished. It is a matter of historic record that Hawk jets can and have been converted for combat use.
“The Tories sold them to Indonesia who used them to oppress the East Timorese.
“A political solution will only be achieved if the cycle of violence can be stopped and that negotiations can start, involving both India and Pakistan along with the Kashmiri people themselves. Before embarking on this grubby little deal, Tony Blair should have asked himself how exactly it would have helped achieve peace in the region.”
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