Swiss Arms Exports Surge

Swiss arms exports reached 348 million Swiss francs (about 342 million U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2008, a surge of 63 percent from the same period last year, the Federal Customs Office said on Tuesday.

The figure is almost the highest in the past 20 years, the agency said.

According to the agency, Pakistan is the largest customer for Swiss arms, followed by Denmark, Germany, Belgium and Britain.

As a neutral country, Switzerland's arms exports have caused much controversy in the country.

A pacifist group, Switzerland Without an Army, has collected enough signatures to force a nationwide vote for an arms export ban.

But no date for the ballot has been set so far.

Source: CRIEnglish