Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Switzerland
April 28 2005

Turkey removes barrier to Swiss arms imports

Switzerland is expected to begin selling arms to Turkey again for the
first time since it introduced tight restrictions on exports to the
country in 1992.

The Turkish government on Thursday ended its boycott of Swiss arms,
one month after Switzerland lifted its embargo.

The Swiss government introduced the restrictions in 1992 at the
height of the Turkish-Kurdish conflict. Since then, the authorities
have only approved exports of handguns and rifles designed for
self-defence or sport.

When it lifted the restrictions last month, the Swiss authorities
said the situation in Turkey had improved significantly, particularly
at the institutional level, and that the move was in line with the
European Union’s policy towards Ankara.

The foreign ministry welcomed Turkey’s announcement on Thursday,
which paves the way for Switzerland to bid for lucrative defence
contracts with the Turkish army.

EU states have already begun selling arms to Turkey again, approving
?780 million of weapons exports to Turkey in 2003.

Divergent opinions
In praise of Turkey’s decision, the Swiss foreign ministry said
Ankara was showing “an open spirit and great tolerance for the
divergent opinions of other states”.

A visit to Turkey at the end of March by the foreign minister,
Micheline Calmy-Rey, was also key to improving bilateral ties.

Calmy-Rey discussed economic relations, human rights and the Armenian
question with Turkish leaders.

Relations soured two years ago when the parliament in the Swiss
canton of Vaud voted to recognise the massacre of Armenians in 1915
as genocide.

According to Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper, Austria and Sweden were
also removed from the Turkish government’s “red list”.

The newspaper said it was a necessary step for Turkey since it has
opened talks with Brussels on EU membership.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress