The Minister-President of Belgium's Flanders on Wednesday declined Saudi Arabia's request for military equipment supplies to the country amid Riyadh executions and the conflict in Yemen.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) "We have rejected the request [for military equipment supplies toSaudi Arabia]," Geert Bourgeois told the Flemish Parliament, asquoted bythe RTBF broadcaster.
On Tuesday, Bourgeois said inan interview withthe broadcaster that he would not give permission forarms sales toSaudi Arabia given the mass executions inthe kingdom and its role inthe Yemeni conflict.
Bourgeois' spokesperson said later that the request was related tosome components ofmilitary uniforms.Bourgeois said that he would not impose an embargo onall deliveries ofmilitary equipment or weapons toSaudi Arabia and each case would be considered separately.
Earlier inJanuary, Germany's Greens demanded toimmediately halt trade relations withSaudi Arabia and introduce a ban onarms sales tothe country. German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said Berlin would not stop arms deliveries toRiyadh butpledged tohave "a closer look" onarms sales toSaudi Arabia inthe future.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people convicted ofterrorism and incitement toviolence, including Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a critic ofthe Saudi royal family. The move triggered violent protests inIran and other Shiite-dominated countries.