A secret conference scheduled for Thursday 8th September, ‘Middle East: A vast market for UK defence and security companies’, which was due to feature speakers from the government's arms sales unit UK Trade & Industry Defence & Security Organisation and hosted by state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland has been cancelled.
The seminar organisers boasted: "The Middle East is one of the regions with the greatest number of opportunities for UK defence and security companies. Within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia stands out as the top destination for the UK defence industry. Also featured in this list are Oman, UAE and Bahrain, however the Middle East as a whole represents a priority market and is undoubtedly a very worthwhile region to target."
The conference was announced in the wake of news that arms sales to repressive regimes such as Bahrain, Libya and Saudi Arabia had increased by almost a third in recent months despite concerns the weapons had been used to suppress democratic protest.
The seminar was scheduled just five days before the opening of Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi), the London arms fair. DSEi is one of the world's largest arms fairs and is highly controversial, especially the recent oppression in the Middle East and North Africa.
The conference was announced in the wake of news that arms sales to repressive regimes such as Bahrain, Libya and Saudi Arabia had increased by almost a third in recent months despite concerns the weapons had been used to suppress democratic protest.
The seminar was scheduled just five days before the opening of Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi), the London arms fair. DSEi is one of the world's largest arms fairs and is highly controversial, especially the recent oppression in the Middle East and North Africa.
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LCC confirm cancellation
02.09.2011 10:36
This is obviously mega news and shows that even the threat to protest works although I was almost looking forward to returning to RBS’s HQ for an action.
They will almost certainly re-schedule this conference at a more secretive location.
CAAT activist
Sources?
02.09.2011 11:02
Interested
Confirmation?
02.09.2011 11:12
Tickets are still on sale online:
So, what is the basis for claiming that it is cancelled? How can we confirm that? Until it is confirmed, we should assume that the event is still going ahead.
Evey
Totally agree
02.09.2011 11:45
They did say that it was going to take a ‘few hours’ to change the website and it may be useful for any journalists reading this to ask LCC to confirm that it has been cancelled (or perhaps just postponed) and ask for a reason why.
CAAT activist
Protest anyway!
02.09.2011 12:42
This is a state-owned bank that is trying to promote arms sales to the Middle East. The mere fact that they agreed to host this meeting shows how hollow the claims by RBS CEO Stephen Hester about being ethical are.
It is bad enough investing in companies that make weapons but actively trying to assist them in marketing their wares is sure not the job of a bank that is ultimately owned by the taxpayer.
So come on CAAT and get some firm details out about what time this protest (in Bishopsgate?) is going to take place.
London anarchist
Demo details
02.09.2011 12:54
Evey
eagerly awaiting the next meeting!
02.09.2011 14:28
from there pdf
Sure to be lots of friendly indonesian torturers (Mark Thomas, Defendory, The Comedy Product) (
...
Satgas
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