Swedish weapons used by Iraqi army
Iraqi soldiers are using Swedish-made anti-tank weapons after having received the equipment from the US military, in direct contravention of bilateral arms exports agreements, according to Sveriges Radio's news bulletin Ekot on Thursday.
"First and foremost, we shall have a look at the information and analyse the consequences," Andreas Ekman Duse, director-general of the Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls (Inspektionen för Strategiska Produkter - ISP), told The Local on Thursday.
The agency is responsible for controlling Swedish arms exports and ensuring that agreements are met. Ekman Duse said that it was too early to draw conclusions on whether the US had broken agreements regarding the Pansarskott 86 recoilless anti-tank weapon.
"What I can say is that Ekot's report includes interviews with an American soldier with who claims to have witnesses that Swedish weapons can have been handed over (to the Iraqis). If this is shown to be the case then we will contact the US authorities," Ekman Duse said.
Social Democratic foreign policy spokesperson Urban Ahlin has demanded that ISP be called before the foreign policy committee of Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, to explain what has occurred.
"If final end user license agreements are not respected, then it could lead to Swedish weapons being dispersed uncontrolled around the world," Ahlin said in a statement.
Ekman Duse told The Local that the agency was prepared to submit its findings to the Riksdag.
"If the foreign policy committee summons us, then of course we will come," he said.
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"First and foremost, we shall have a look at the information and analyse the consequences," Andreas Ekman Duse, director-general of the Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls (Inspektionen för Strategiska Produkter - ISP), told The Local on Thursday.
The agency is responsible for controlling Swedish arms exports and ensuring that agreements are met. Ekman Duse said that it was too early to draw conclusions on whether the US had broken agreements regarding the Pansarskott 86 recoilless anti-tank weapon.
"What I can say is that Ekot's report includes interviews with an American soldier with who claims to have witnesses that Swedish weapons can have been handed over (to the Iraqis). If this is shown to be the case then we will contact the US authorities," Ekman Duse said.
Social Democratic foreign policy spokesperson Urban Ahlin has demanded that ISP be called before the foreign policy committee of Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, to explain what has occurred.
"If final end user license agreements are not respected, then it could lead to Swedish weapons being dispersed uncontrolled around the world," Ahlin said in a statement.
Ekman Duse told The Local that the agency was prepared to submit its findings to the Riksdag.
"If the foreign policy committee summons us, then of course we will come," he said.
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