UPDATE 1-Germany bans exports of arms to Turkey

Germany has banned arms exports to Turkey as a reaction to the country's assault on the Kurdish YPG militia in northeast Syria, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Saturday.

Turkey launched the military operation on Wednesday days after U.S. troops pulled back from the area, with airstrikes and artillery hitting YPG militia positions near the border. Turkey's actions have drawn widespread international criticism and warnings from the United States and the European Union of possible sanctions.

"Against the backdrop of the Turkish military offensive... , the Federal Government will not issue any new permits for all military equipment that could be used by Turkey in Syria", Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, according to the spokeswoman. The comment confirmed a report in weekly Bild Am Sonntag.

Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Friday that Germany expected all NATO partners - which include Turkey - to contribute to stabilizing the region. Germany exported arms worth 243 million euros ($268 million) to Turkey in 2018, accounting for almost one-third of its weapons exports, according to Bild am Sonntag.

In the first four months of 2019, Turkey received weapons from Germany worth 184 million euros, making it the biggest recipient country, the paper said.

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