Germany Ignored Israel's Demand Not to Sell Subs to Egypt

18.09.2012 German defense minister Thomas de Maiziere ignored Israel's demand not to sell two diesel-electric submarines to Israel. He affirmed the situation in Egypt was far from stable but emphasized that no country had a right to veto resolutions of the German government.

The minister made that statement in the interview to Frankfurter Rundschau answering the question about possible selling of two Type 209 patrol submarines to Egypt.

Thomas de Maiziere stressed he was expressing only his own point of view and was beyond talks about any sales of submarines.

All arms exporting matters are responsibility of German's federal security commission which resolutions are not subject to publishing. Der Spiegel website reported on Tuesday that the commission would soon resume talks on that project which had been approved as early as Nov 2011.

Two weeks ago, Egyptian leader Usama al Gindi mentioned about that bargain. Later on, Israeli media reported on deterioration of relations between Israel and Germany because of that issue.