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Swiss reject arms exports ban
Geneva (AFP) Nov 29, 2009 Swiss voters rejected in a referendum on Sunday a proposal to ban weapons exports. An activist organisation, the Group for Switzerland without an Army (GSwA), had gathered the necessary 100,000 signatures under Swiss regulations to force a referendum on the issue. It called for Switzerland to have "a coherent foreign policy, without participating in conflict and killing indirectly." Defence companies had argued any ban would result in as many as 10,000 job losses, and 68 percent of voters were against a ban, according to official results. After the result, Economy Minister Doris Leuthard vowed to "strictly" review each sale of arms abroad and promised Switzerland would not sell weapons to countries that systematically violated human rights. Switzerland's weapon exports were worth a total of 722 million Swiss francs (477 million euros, 714 million dollars) in 2008. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Venezuela to take delivery on Chinese planes next year Caracas (AFP) Nov 27, 2009 Venezuela will take delivery in 2010 of the first six of 18 K-8 Karakorum trainer or light attack planes it bought from China, the Air Force's top commander said Friday. "A total of 18, K-8 18 aircraft will be delivered, in addition to radar equipment that will help ensure national security," General Jorge Arevalo told ABC news agency. He said China would make three deliveries of the war ... read more |
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