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."