French legal organizations blame the French president on killing Yemenis

YemenExtra

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A report ,issued by a law company on the demand by French legal organizations, said that France and French arms suppliers faced increasing legal risk of supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates despite warnings that such weapons could be used in the war on Yemen.

The report came after criticism by human rights organizations and French lawmakers to President Emmanuel Macaron because of his support for the coalition and arms sales, which lack transparency and insufficient safeguards to prevent their use in operations in Yemen, according to the agency «Reuters».

“This study shows serious legal risks that France’s supply of weapons is incompatible with its international obligations,” said Joseph Préham, Laurence Gregg, writers of the report for Amnesty International and France’s French human rights group ECHAT.

They added: «The French government authorized the export of military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in circumstances in which these weapons can be used in Yemen’s conflict and can be used to commit war crimes

In an answer to a guestion about the export licensing system, the French Foreign Ministry said that “the governmental operations are strong and transparent.” French officials said they had already asked arms suppliers to stop requesting new export licenses for Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

“I do not think you will see a clear rejection on our part, the most likely thing is an informal message to companies to avoid bothering to apply for licenses,” Rueters quoted from a French diplomat .

“This will be a real restriction, but without saying it publicly to not anger the Saudis,” he added.

Diplomats and aid officials say there is no sign that Paris has halted or reduced arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The report came at a critical time for Macron, who is suposed to host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in early April. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the biggest purchasers of French arms, whereas they buy tanks, armored vehicles, ammunition and artillery from France. The UAE buys French fighter jets.

Although some European countries have boycut military ties with the Saudi-led coalition, Britain and the United States continue to maintain ties.