18.02.2005, 20:16
Zitat:RUSSIA PLANS S-18 SALE TO SYRIAQuelle: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2005/february/02_18_2.html">http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2005/ ... _18_2.html</a><!-- m -->
MOSCOW [MENL] -- Russia plans to sell the SA-18 surface-to-air missile to Syria.
In a reversal of its position expressed less than a month ago, Russia's Defense Ministry acknowledged negotiations for the sale of the SA-18 man-portable anti-aircraft system to Syria. The ministry said the SA-18 was a defensive system and it would be mounted on Syrian vehicles.
"Negotiations are now taking place on delivery to Damascus of the Strelets close-range anti-air system," a Russian Defense Ministry official was quoted by the Interfax agency as saying.
It was the first time a Defense Ministry official acknowledged negotiations for the SA-18 to Syria. In January 2005, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov denied that Moscow intended to sell the SA-18. Ivanov said Russia and the United States would sign an agreement to ban the export of man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS.