"We don't sell arms to dictators" says Watson

11.54.21am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Dec 2004

Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, won loud applause from parliamentary colleagues for reminding the European Council to live up to commitments to defend Human Rights abroad by not abandoning the EU embargo on sales of arms to China.

Summing up remarks to Prime Minister Balkenende at the end of the Dutch Presidency period in office Watson praised the workmanlike approach of the Dutch over the past 6 months with many substantial achievements, but was very critical of signs of giving in to Chinese pressure over weapons sales.

"We don't sell arms to dictators" declared Watson, recalling the lessons that should have been drawn from experience with Iraq, Iran and others, "There should be no lifting of the embargo until we see significant signs of democratic reform."

Watson also welcomed the historical decisions reached under the Dutch Presidency concerning enlargement - Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey but warned that none should be taken for granted if the reform process is not consolidated and Human Rights fully respected:

"If our ambition is that all of the Western Balkans may one day be full members of the Union, we cannot afford to overlook this very basic criterion", he said, referring to the pre-condition of delivering ICTY indictees to the Hague both with respect to Croatia and the Bosnian Serbs.

Graham Watson also applauded the emphasis placed by the Dutch over the past 6 months on advancing the Lisbon Agenda and "improving the recipe for European competitiveness spiced with action on better regulation and simplification of the regulatory environment."