Arms sales discussed

Press, 15 June 1983, Page 6

Arms sales discussed

INZrA Bonn West Germany is considering sales of tanks and howitzers to Saudi Arabia as a result of a meeting between the Chancellor Dr Helmut Kohl, and the Saudi Arabian Defence Minister, Prince Sultan iban Abdul Aziz.

A Bonn Government spokesman, Peter Boenisch, said yesterday that Dr Kohl had met Prince Sultan at

the West German leader’s home last week. Mr Boenisch would not deny that possible arms sales were discussed. West Germany “had no concrete demands” for arms sales from the Saudis, but the question of supplying German made Leopard tanks and howitzers was “in a process of deliberation,” he said. The Kohl Government

adhered to the previous policy of restraint when considering weapons deliveries to non-N.A.T.O. members. Dr Kohl’s precedessor, Helmut Schmidt, refused to supply German-made weapons to Saudi Arabia. The issue may be discussed when Dr Kohl visits Saudi Arabia later this year after a visit to Israel, Mr Boenisch said.