Selling to Syria
January 23, 2012
A Russian newspaper reported on Monday that the Russian government had made a deal with Syria for the delivery of 36 combat jets, in a show of support for the embattled regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
The Kommersant business daily said, quoting an unnamed source close to Russia's Rosoboronexport state arms trader, the deal was worth roughly 425 million euros ($550 million) and would involve the delivery of 36 Yak-130 aircraft. A spokesman for Rosboronexport did not comment when contacted by the paper.
The Yak-130 is a twin-engined combat trainer jet that can also be used to attack targets on the ground. The Russian air force has recently placed an order for 55 such jets.
The alleged deal comes as western countries seek to up the pressure on Assad's regime in Syria, which has often resorted to violence against civilians protesting against the government over the past 10 months. According to UN estimates, more than 5,400 people have been killed in that period.
The US has repeatedly expressed concerns over Russian military trade ties with Syria.
"We are only trading items with Syria that are not banned by international law," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week when challenged on the issue.
Lavrov also accused his critics of turning a blind eye to attacks instigated by Syrian opposition activists and to the supply of weapons to Syrian rebels from abroad. Russia is opposed to sanctions or military intervention in Syria, and has said it will seek to block any such measure at the United Nations if it's proposed. Russia and Syria have maintained strong ties since the Soviet era and the presidency of Assad's father, Hafez Assad.
Author: Mark Hallam (AFP, AP)
Editor: Andrew Bowen