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UK PM Welcomes High Court Judgment to Reject Halt of KSA Arms deal | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A general view shows Court One during the opening of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in London, October 16, 2009. REUTERS/Gareth Fuller/Pool


London– UK Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed London’s High Court judgment that rejected a claim by campaigners requesting the halt of Britain’s multi-billion-pound arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

“The claimant’s claim for judicial review is dismissed,” announced the High Court.

In its statement, the High Court declared that Saudi Arabia has been, and remains, genuinely committed to compliance with International Humanitarian Law, adding there was no “real risk that there might be serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (in its various manifestations) such that UK arm sales to Saudi Arabia should be suspended or canceled.”

“I welcome the High Court judgment today… it shows that we do in this country operate one of the most robust export- control regimes in the world,” PM May told parliament when asked about the ruling.

Saudi Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia on Monday welcomed the High Court ruling, reaffirming its respect for the independence of the United Kingdom’s judiciary.

“We also note that the Court’s statement that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been, and remains, genuinely committed to compliance with International Humanitarian Law,” the statement issued by the embassy said.

“The Coalition’s aim is to restore legitimacy in Yemen. It is operating with the unanimous support of the UN Security Council, via Resolution 2216, to thwart an Iran-backed Houthi insurgency in Yemen, against the internationally recognized, legitimate Government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi,” added the statement.

The embassy reiterated that Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom work together in many different areas and none is more important than their joint fight against terrorism and the desire to restore peace and stability in Yemen and beyond.