Some lifting of pressure on the euro zone's financial markets has already been evident since the start of the year.

WSJ: Euro Crisis Clouds Global Outlook

At a summit last December, EU leaders agreed to consider lifting the ban after pressure from France and Germany, which were keen to sell weapons.

BBC: NEWS | Europe | EU maintains Chinese arms embargo

In 1990, the South African government responded to internal and international pressure and freed him, at the same time lifting the ban against the anti-apartheid African National Congress (ANC).

BBC: Nelson Mandela's 1990 release marked in South Africa