§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) of 14 January,Official Report, column 305, if he will set out the reasons why a ban on arms sales to Indonesia would not be appropriate.
§ Mr. GoodladOur policy on arms sales to Indonesia is based on the principle that all sovereign states enjoy the right, under article 51 of the United Nations charter, to defend themselves. This is a right we claim for ourselves and it would be inconsistent and discriminatory to deny it to others.
The export of defence equipment is controlled through our domestic export licence system.
A ban on arms sales to Indonesia would not in our view bring about a change in the circumstances of East Timor.