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Russia freezes supplies of fighter jets to Syria: report
Moscow (AFP) May 20, 2009 Russia has suspended supplies to Syria of MiG-31 fighter jets under possible pressure from Israel or due to Syria's inability to pay for the planes, Kommersant reported Wednesday, citing sources. The 400-500 million-dollar contract for the delivery of eight MiG-31s was inked in early 2007, the paper said. But work on the modernisation of the planes at the Sokol aviation plant in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod halted last month, Kommersant quoted sources at the plant as saying. A spokesman for Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Vyacheslav Davidenko, declined to comment on the report Wednesday, dismissing it as "rumours." A source close to the arms exporter told Kommersant the contract had been frozen under pressure from Israel as the weapon sales could offset the balance of power in the region. "A similar situation occurred with deliveries of Iskander missiles to Syria. Israel at the time exerted massive pressure on Russia, and the contract was officially cancelled," the paper quoted the source as saying. However, Kommersant also cited an unnamed government official who said the contract was suspended because Damascus could no longer afford the planes. In 2005, Moscow forgave 70 percent of Syria's total debt of 13.4 billion dollars, Kommersant said. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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NATO In The Early 21st Century: Part SixWashington (UPI) May 19, 2009 As the first decade of the 21st century ends, the European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are moving in a somewhat leisurely manner to modernize their already technically advanced weaponry with more high-tech systems. But they are making no moves to increase the size of their military establishments. On the contrary, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose natio ... read more |
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