Report: Europe Linked to Arms Scandals with Middle East Countries

Europe has been swept into scandals concerning allegations of illegal arms sales in which Iran and Saudi Arabia are involved, according to a report by the Middle East News Line (MENL). 

The report is based on two separate reports: The arrest of a Belgian national in Iran and a major investigation of German politicians.  

MENL cited press reports in Teheran where authorities announced that a Belgian arms dealer has been arrested on charges of espionage. 

European sources wee quoted as identifying the detainee as Jacques Monsieur, who resides in France, and was investigated by both Belgian and French police for illegal arms deals, said the report.  

Monsieur was said to have played a major role in the export of Iranian weapons to Bosnia during the civil war in Yugoslavia near a decade ago. He was regarded as having excellent relations with the Islamic republic. 

The news service also referred to the scandal facing former chancellor Helmut Kohl. 

The scandal centers on a covert $530,000 payment by an arms dealer to the treasurer of the Christian Democrats while Kohl was chancellor and party chairman in 1991. 

Lawmakers are trying to establish whether the money was a kickback for a 1991 arms sale to Saudi Arabia, which included German armored military vehicles, the designated head of the investigating committee, Volker Neumann, was quoted by agencies as saying – Albawba.com