OTTAWA - Germany is carefully reviewing all future arms exports to Saudi Arabia because of human rights concerns, but won't cancel previously negotiated deals.
German officials have explained to The Canadian Press why the country has stopped allowing the export of some military hardware to Saudi Arabia.
Germany's position offers a counterpoint to the position of Canada, a NATO ally, and the recent clamour over an Ontario company's deal to export $15 billion worth of light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 people earlier this month, including a prominent Shiite cleric, has renewed calls on the federal Liberal government to suspend the lucrative deal between Saudi Arabia and General Dynamics Land Systems.
The Liberals, like the Conservatives before them, have said they will not cancel the deal.
But Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion has criticized Saudi Arabia for the mass executions and is considering releasing a partially censored version of the latest human rights assessment of the country.
