KL challenges West on arms sale

KL challenges West on arms sale

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has
challenged the West to impose economic sanctions on Malaysia for
offering to sell arms to Bosnian Moslem forces, reports said
yesterday.

Expressing disgust late Tuesday with the West's decision to
act only if United Nations Protection Forces (UNPROFOR) were
attacked, Mahathir said that Malaysia was prepared to face
possible sanctions for its firm stand to help Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"We have to face it. These people have always talked about
human rights and accused Malaysia of the violation of human
rights," Mahathir said.

"Frankly I am very disgusted to hear over the BBC (British
Broadcasting Corporation) about the decision made at the London
meeting," Mahathir was reported saying in local news reports as
saying.

The meeting in London held to discuss the Bosnian conflict was
attended by 16 nations, which included the five big powers
Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

Mahathir announced Saturday that Malaysia was willing to sell
arms to Bosnian Moslem forces, calling the arms embargo a
violation of the Bosnians' right to defend themselves against the
Serb attack.

The offer has been opposed by the United States, which said on
Tuesday that the defiance of the UN arms embargo would "widen the
war."

State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns was reported saying
in Washington that although the US was not opposed to Moslem
countries' involvement in the Balkans, "we certainly hope that
any actions that they take will be in accordance with existing UN
resolutions."

Mahathir said late Tuesday he considered the actions of the
West as attempts to help the rebel Serbs kill the Bosnians.

"If the Serbs attack the Bosnians or kill them right in front
of their eyes, they will not do anything," Mahathir charged.

Mahathir has blamed the United Nations arms embargo and the
UN's ineffectiveness for the worsening conflict in the former
Yugoslav republic and has demanded the resignation of UN
Secretary-General Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali.

Malaysia has also promised to beef up the weaponry of
Malaysian troops serving as UN peacekeepers.

Mahathir has also decided not to attend the UN's 50th
anniversary celebrations to be held in New York in October,
saying "there is nothing to celebrate."