Russia Says US Sanctions On Arms Dealers Illegal

MILPLEX

Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov. Russian businesses had already strongly contested the measures on Friday, saying they were respecting international law. Russia is one of the world's leading arms exporters. In 2005, it sold weapons to 61 countries for a record total of more than six billion dollars.

by Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) Jan 6, 2007
Russia hit back Saturday at the United States after Washington had imposed sanctions on three Russian firms for exporting weapons to Libya and Iran, branding the US action "illegal". "The United States are not for the first time trying to extend their national laws illegally to foreign countries, forcing them to work according to Aemrican rules," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Washington announced sanctions Friday against 24 foreign entities, including Russian, Chinese and North Korean firms, for allegedly selling banned weapons to Iran and Syria.

Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov said Saturday that as head of the commission controlling military exports he confirmed that "the three (Russian) companies did not violate any international norms on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies," according to the Interfax news agency.

"It seems the American government is unhappy about the growing volume of arms and military equipment sold by Russia," the agency cited Ivanov as saying.

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboroneksport was among the highest profile firms hit by the measures, imposed under the US 2005 Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

The United States had already imposed similar sanctions on Rosoboroneksport and Russian plane maker Sukhoi in August 2006 for providing Iran with material that Washington said could be used to make weapons of mass destruction.

"Ultimately, all these decisions constitute an internal problem for the American authorities," the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday.

"The American state is forbidding itself and American companies from cooperating with our leading businesses. In business terms, that means wasted opportunities," the ministry said.

Russian businesses had already strongly contested the measures on Friday, saying they were respecting international law.

Russia is one of the world's leading arms exporters. In 2005, it sold weapons to 61 countries for a record total of more than six billion dollars.

Source: Agence France-Presse

MILPLEX

East Asia The Biggest Suspect In US Military Technology Theft

Washington (AFP) Jan 03, 2007
East Asian nations are the biggest suspected thieves of American military technology, according to an annual Pentagon study showing foreign spies using sex and computer hacking to steal defense secrets. There will be no let up in technology theft in East Asia, which includes rising military power China, as the economically booming region modernizes its defense systems, said the "2006 Technology Collection Trends in the US Defense Industry" report.

SUPERPOWERS The Putin We Don't Know The Russian Economy In 2006 The New Bush Order Moscow Enjoys Banner Year In 2006	NUKEWARS US To Announce New Nuclear Warhead US And North Korea To Meet This Month Report On Israeli Iran Strike Incorrect Says Foreign Ministry Northrop Grumman ICBM Propulsion System Rocket Engine Life Extension Program
MISSILE NEWS ATK Receives New Contract For HELLFIRE Rocket Motors And Warheads Navy Posts Successful Test Of Raytheon Block IV Tomahawk Cruise Missile LockMart-Built Trident II D5 Launched In Two-Missile US Navy Test LockMart Announces Firing Of Hellfire II Missile During French Evaluation	MISSILE DEFENSE Raytheon Awarded Subcontract for Sea-Based X-Band Radar Sustainment Support Raytheon Completes Negotiations Billion Dollar Contract For JLENS Development Lockheed Martin Provides Proven Solutions For Missile Defense Israel Could Abandon Own Missiles For US System
AEROSPACE IATA Gives Cautious Welcome To EU Emissions Trading Plan EU Proposes CO2 Emission Quotas For Airlines Shoulder Ligament A Linchpin In The Evolution Of Flight EU Compromises On Airlines In Carbon-Trading Scheme	UAV NEWS Boeing Provides ScanEagle UAV to Australian Army Techsphere Structures Licensing Agreement With Global Skyship Industries Warfare Center To Host Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle Fest 2007 Northrop Grumman Lifts US Navy To New Era For Unmanned Flight
IRAQ WARS US Iraq Plan To Include New Troops And Lots Of Jobs For Iraqis A Sudden Departure From CIA Headquarters Dark December For US Forces American Troops Screen Saddam Jail Notes Says Lawyer	MILTECH Recon Optical Awarded Contract For Stabilized Remotely Operated Weapon Systems Northrop Grumman Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload Takes To Air On First U-2 Flight Northrop Grumman To Support Analysis Program For US Transportation Command New Evaluation Brigade To Test Emerging Warfighter Technologies

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement