Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt and Russia have concluded an agreement for a $2 billion weapons deal.

Officials said Cairo and the Kremlin concluded three months of negotiations for the sale of Russian helicopters and air defense systems to Egypt. They said the talks focused on financial issues, including repayment terms.

“All of the issues have been resolved, and formal contracts will be signed soon,” an official said.

The Egyptian newspaper Al Masri Al Yom said Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates have agreed to finance Russian arms exports to Cairo. In a report on Feb. 7, the independent daily cited Saudi and UAE assistance of nearly $10 billion to the new military-backed regime in Egypt.

“The two Gulf kingdoms played a vital role in sealing the deal,” Al Masri, quoting a senior official, said.

On Feb. 10, Egypt unveiled a $4.9 billion economic stimulus package based on UAE aid. Officials said Egypt required $1 billion to import gasoline and natural gas.

In November 2013, visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov led strategic cooperation talks with Cairo that included military training and arms exports. At the time, officials said the Kremlin, amid a U.S. suspension of major arms deliveries, offered to sell Egypt air defense systems, helicopters, anti-tank guided missiles and the MiG-29 fighter-jet.

But officials said the talks became stuck over the question of Egyptian
repayment. They said Moscow demanded guarantees of payment before any deal
was announced.

Under the agreement, Russia would begin arms deliveries to Egypt over
the next few months. Officials said the deal would be implemented in several
stages.

“The official revealed that the first tranche of Russian weapons to
Egypt will be delivered before mid-2014,” Al Masri quoted the senior
official as saying. “The delivery and payments will both be phased.”

  Cairo sign $2 billion weapons deal, financed by the Saudis, MiG-29 fighter-jets, Moscow, Saudis, Sergei Lavrov, Sergei Shoigu, UAE