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Report: Iran, Syria are Russia's top military clients
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
WASHINGTON — Iran and Syria are the leading defense
clients of Russia in the Middle East, according to a new report.
The Congressional Research Service said Iran and Syria were the biggest
Middle East importers of Russian weapons from 2002 through 2005. In a
report, CRS said the orders marked Russia's return to the Middle East
weapons market, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The principal purchasers of Russian arms were: Iran [$1.7 billion],
Syria [$800 million],Yemen [$500 million], Libya, and Israel [$300 million
each]," the report, entitled "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing
Nations 1998-2005," said.
Later, industry sources said the Israeli purchase from Russia comprised
the procurement of Il-76 air transports. They said the cargo aircraft were
relayed to India as part of Israel's airborne early-warning and control
system project, valued at $1.1 billion.
China, a missile and light arms exporter, was also cited as a leading
supplier to the Middle East. CRS said that from 2002 through 2005, Egypt was
the leading purchaser of Chinese systems, with orders that totaled $400
million. Iran and Saudi Arabia followed with $300 million and $200 million,
respectively.
"The value of China's arms transfer agreements with Iran rose from
essentially nil in 1998-2001 to $300 million in the 2002-2005 period," the
report said.
The United States was cited as the leading supplier of military
platforms and systems to the Middle East in 2002-2005. Egypt was the leading
client of the United States, with $5.2 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia and
Israel, with $4.2 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively.
Copyright © 2006 East West
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