NICOSIA Ñ Western diplomats and opposition sources say the Ukraine has supplied advanced radar systems to Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The sources said Ukraine supplied Iraq with three Kolchuga radar systems, which have a range of 700 kilometers. The radars Ñ supplied in a reported sale of $100 million Ñ reportedly can track as many as 100 enemy aircraft.

Kiev is said to serve as a conduit for Russian military aid to nations that are under sanctions or for missile and weapons of mass destruction programs banned under international treaties, Middle East Newsline reported.

Syria has been negotiating for five years with Russia for the renewal of weapons. But Damascus has refused to acknowledge an $11 billion debt to Moscow and Syrian defense chiefs have been seeking other suppliers for such platforms as fighter-jets, tanks and long-range radar.

Currently, Syria and Ukraine are discussing the prospect of defense cooperation.

Arab diplomatic sources said the issue is being discussed during the visit by Ukraine President Leonid Kuchma to Damascus. Kuchma arrived on Saturday as head of a large delegation.

The Ukraine has quietly expanded military cooperation with Syria over the last five years. Kiev has upgraded Syria's fleet of T-55 main battle tanks and provides spare parts to maintain Damascus' military.

Kuchma, accompanied by his defense minister, Volodymyr Shkidchenko, met Syrian President Bashar Assad as well as Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas. No details were reported but Arab diplomatic sources said the two countries intend to increase annual trade to $500 million by the end of the year.

Kuchma is scheduled to begin a visit to Beirut on Monday. The sources said this will be the first such visit by a Ukraine president since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

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