Netherlands Relaxes Army Equipment Export Regime

THE HAGUE --- The Netherlands has lifted the restriction that its non-strategic army vehicles may only be sold to friendly countries and non-governmental organisations.>> The cabinet has backed a proposal by the Finance and Defence State Secretaries to open up the sales options for non-strategic four-wheel drive trucks. "We have partly allowed ourselves to be led here by the fact that other EU countries have already been selling these vehicles publicly and without restrictions for longer and have found no undesirable use of these," says Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen in a letter to parliament.>> The restriction on the sale of the vehicles was introduced in 1997, when the sale of 100 army four-wheel drive vehicles to Zaire, then a conflict area, was cancelled. Meanwhile, however, Defence State Secretary Jack de Vries has 1,000 surplus vehicles that he cannot get rid of. To accede to him, Verhagen has now given permission for these to be put on the market via a system of private subscription.>> "Direct sale to governments of friendly countries and NGOs has not turned out to be an adequate alternative for the system of public selling. There is currently a stock of about 1,000 unsold vehicles and in the coming period, another 1,500 are expected. Not only is storage a problem but the State is also losing out on income," stated Verhagen.>> The government will relax the selling options. "This relaxation means that as well as direct sales to other countries and NGOs, the vehicles will be offered for sale via a system of private subscription. To keep an eye on the sale and restrict the risks of improper use as much as possible, permission is necessary from the State beforehand. Depending on the next destination, further restrictions might be imposed.