RIGHTS:  EU Urged to Stand Firm on Arms Ban
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BRUSSELS, Dec 7 (IPS) - The European Union must raise the issue of human  rights abuse in China when its leaders meet their Chinese  counterparts at a summit this week, say leading human rights  groups.
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1700CET--The European Commission&#39;s president designate Jose&#39; Manuel Durao Barroso insisted he will not change
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Hopes of finding a solution to Northern Ireland&#39;s political deadlock stalled last night over the IRA&#39;s refusal to disarm its weapons transparently.
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The European Union has agreed in principle to lift an 18 year arms embargo on Tripoli. The European bloc has bowed to pressure from Italy which wants to help the former pariah state fight illegal immigration.
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Chinaâs human rights record does not warrant the lifting of a 15 year old EU arms embargo, said a senior US official. Gregory Suchan, US Deputy assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs
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The European Parliament on Wednesday urged EU leaders to open entry talks with Turkey &quot;without undue delay&quot; in a non-binding but influential resolution that was approved after heated debate.
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The first minister says he may still press for a ban on airguns if legislation proves ineffective.
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At their meeting in Luxemburg on Oct. 11-12, the EU foreign ministers decided to maintain -- for the time being -- the EU arms embargo against China.
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China on Wednesday urged the European Union to end "political discrimination" and resume its arms trade, but failed to secure a clear commitment on the timing of such a move.
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The European Union, called yesterday on the Israeli government to end its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip immediately, maintaining that Israel has the right to defend itself.
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Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the European Union would have to work to ease tensions with the United States over the likely lifting of an embargo on arms sales to China, a move opposed by Washington.
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The US is ready to hold back military technology from European allies over EU steps to revoke its arms embargo on China, the Financial Times reported.
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China called for the European Union to lift its arms embargo on Beijing but an analyst and EU official indicated no breakthrough was likely during Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming European summit.
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The government was heading for a showdown with other EU member states Thursday as it held firm over the &quot;red lines&quot; it has pledged to defend in negotiations on a key EU treaty in Tony Blair&#39;s final summit as the country&#39;s leader.
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The European Union remains split over lifting the 15-year-old arms embargo on China, but "the tide is turning" and the bloc appears set to end the ban sooner or later, diplomats said.
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Â· Some states 'in denial' over constitution  Â· Barroso rejects Ã  la carte Europe of exemptions
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The European Union and China pledged to boost relations Wednesday, but the EU said there can be no early lifting of its 15-year-old embargo on arms sales until Beijing improves its shaky human rights record.