MND DENIES ARMS SALES TO LIBYA
ROC Central News Agency
2006-08-02 13:47:21
Taipei, Aug. 2 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) denied reports Wednesday that Taiwan may sell small arms such as rifles and machine guns to Libya. "There is no such a thing as the media have reported, " MND spokesman Wu Chi-fang said.
Wu was responding to media reports that the ministry has embarked on military exchanges with Libya and that it invited ranking Libyan military officials to Taiwan to observe the "Han Kuang No. 22" live fire exercise last month. The reports also said that Taiwan may sell small arms and military-related equipment to Libya.
The reports came after President Chen Shui-bian's unexpected transit stop in Tripoli, Libya on his way back home from his two-leg Latin American visit in May.
President Chen signed a memorandum of understanding with Libyan authorities during his brief visit to the North African country, which is expected to boost trade, fishery, tourism, science and technology, as well as petrochemical cooperation between the two countries.
In a move to attract Taiwan tourists and show its friendship with Taiwan, Libya also announced that Taiwan citizens will be allowed to enter the country visa-free.
(By Lilian Wu)
enditem/Li
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