PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron
on Friday dismissed as "demagoguery" the calls by several
European countries including Germany to suspend arms sales to
Saudi Arabia following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
"What's the link between arms sales and Mr Khashoggi's
murder? I understand the connection with what's happening in
Yemen, but there is no link with Mister Khashoggi," Macron told
a news conference in Slovakia.
"That's pure demagoguery to say 'we must stop arms sales'.
It's got nothing to do with Mr Khashoggi," he added.
Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl told a German
newspaper the European Union should halt arms sales to Saudi
Arabia following the killing of Khashoggi, saying it could also
help end "the terrible war in Yemen".
The comments from Austria, the current president of the EU,
came after Germany said it would stop approving weapons exports
to Saudi Arabia until Khashoggi's death at the Saudi consulate
in Istanbul is cleared up.