Press Release

The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR) is delighted that the Prime Minister Gordon Brown has at long last announced the closure of the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), the UK government’s arms export promotion unit. FoR along with CAAT and SPEAK have long called for the push of weapons around the world through DESO to be ended. FoR today is thinking particularly of one of our members, Mary Ann Ebert, who faithfully vigiled outside DESO every Friday for many, many years until her death in 1998.

FoR together with Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and SPEAK handed in a petition calling for the closure of DESO signed by 10,000 people in March 2007. Many Church leaders also signed up to FoR’s campaign on this issue.

Whilst FoR believes that this is a significant step on the way to ending the arms trade – and the shocked reaction from BAE Systems and the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) to the closure indicates what a major step it is – the campaign to completely end the arms trade will of course continue.

FoR Director Chris Cole said “We have been pressed by our partners is areas of conflict to try to stem the flow of arms from Britain and we believe that the closure of DESO will have a real and significant impact on the UK arms trade. We await to see the details of what will happen after DESO closes but we are delighted that our message that pushing arms around the globe does not bring peace and security is finally being heard and we thank everyone who has supported this campaign.”

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For more details call Fellowship of Reconciliation on 01865 748796 or 07960811437