Belgium Halts Tax Treaty Talks With Saudi Arabia – Reports

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Belgian Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt suspended tax-convention negotiations with Saudi Arabia, local media reported Friday.

According to the Belgian De Standaard newspaper, the decision comes after the Belgian opposition called on authorities to review the country’s relations with Saudi Arabia in light of Riyadh’s support of an "ultra-conservative" interpretation of Islam.

"In light of current events it seems appropriate to re-evaluate that convention on its desirability," the newspaper quoted van Overtveldt’s cabinet as saying.

Belgium remains on high-terror alert since the November 13 attacks in Paris, as a number of the perpetrators, including the mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud and current fugitive Salah Abdeslam, were citizens or residents of the country.