Kesher Talk

Accusations by Human Rights Watch that Brazil continues to sell arms to Iraq are untrue, according to a 30 May report in the Sao Paulo center-right daily "O Estado de Sao Paulo." The "O Estado de Sao Paulo" report said that Brazil had not sold military equipment to Iraq since 1987 and that details of the Brazil-Iraq military relationship were publicly available in dossier CSN/192/90 in the old Brazilian National Security Council. The report chided Human Rights Watch for being selective with evidence and ignoring documents that contradicted its accusations. Prior to 1987, three Brazilian companies supplied Iraq with military equipment. Embraer sold 80 Emb-312 Tucano planes to Iraq, with Egypt as intermediary. However, "O Estado de Sao Paulo" said that Embraer severed all ties with Baghdad following the Gulf War and has not even supplied spare parts. Engesa, which collapsed in 1992, sold armored vehicles to Baghdad in 1987. Avibras Aerospace Industry sold air-to-ground rockets, bombs, and surface-to-surface rockets to Iraq, but it had to seek bankruptcy protection in 1991 when Iraq defaulted on a $50 million payment. "O Estado de Sao Paulo" conceded that 14 Brazilians, including at least one married to an Iraqi, are employed in the Iraqi arms industry where they remain due to exceptionally high salaries.

posted by Howard @ 6/07/2002 02:45:57 PM