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Dutch parliament wants to continue EU arms embargo for China 18/11/2004 A majority of the Dutch parliament has urged the government, which currently holds the rotating European Union presidency, to work to maintain an EU arms sales embargo against China, the Dutch ANP news agency reported Thursday. Dutch European Affairs Minister Atzo Nicolai told the parliament that the Netherlands will lobby for the continuation of the embargo if it becomes clear that other countries also support it, according to ANP. On Wednesday the European Parliament voted to maintain the armes sales embargo against China until it improves its human rights record. The vote flew in the face of the wishes of leading EU member states France and Germany. Britain and Italy have also expressed their support for a lifting of the arms embargo but Denmark and Sweden oppose it. Parliament passed a motion asking the Dutch government to lobby for the continuation of the embargo earlier this year but the government had argued that the country would become isolated as the only one to support the ban. Now that is has become clear that Sweden and Denmark also oppose the lifting of the embargo, parliament has reiterated its call. The continuation of the embargo is likely to be discussed at an EU summit in Brussels in December. |