Russia Says It's Ready to Arm Saudi Arabia

IMRA ^ | 2-13-05

[SJackson]

Russia Says It's Ready to Arm Saudi Arabia

Lyuba Pronina, Staff Writer Moscow Times February 10, 2005 No. 3103

[From David Isenberg's Weapons Trade Observer, http://lists.topica.com/lists/sento] [With thanks to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm ]

Moscow is preparing its first major defense contract with Saudi Arabia, the world's largest arms buyer that has traditionally spent its petrodollars on U.S.-made weapons. The deal is part of a strategy aimed at diversifying Russia's arms buyers away from China and India, Sergei Chemezov, general director of state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport, told reporters Wednesday.

Russia also signed an arms contract with Morocco last month, he said, the first since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Chemezov refused to give any details, but said that Russia is stepping up negotiations with Middle Eastern countries for jointly developing air defense systems on the basis of the domestically produced S-300, Buk and Tor-M1 systems.

"If a contract with Saudi Arabia is signed, it will be a landmark event in Russian arms exporting," said Marat Kenzhetayev, an expert with the Center for Arms Control.

From 1991 to 2002, Saudi Arabia imported $ 93 billion worth of weapons, Kenzhetayev said, while Morocco imported $ 1 billion.

In that same period of time, Riyadh signed $ 40 billion worth of arms contracts, of which $ 28 billion flowed to the United States and not a penny went to Russia, he said.

After U.S.-Saudi relations dampened following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the situation now seems to be swinging in Russia's favor, Kenzhetayev said.

While Moscow already sells arms to Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iran, Kuwait and Algeria, a deal with the Saudis could push its neighbors Jordan and Oman to sign Russian contracts as well, Kenzhetayev said.

For Moscow, which sells arms to 59 countries, finding new customers is important as it tries to diversify away from major clients China and India, which account for 80 percent of Russian arms sales.

"We have reached the ceiling of $ 5 billion to $ 6 billion in annual arms sales abroad," Chemezov said. "We have to change something drastically." Last year, Rosoboronexport, which mediates over 90 percent of the country's arms deals, delivered $ 5.1 billion worth of arms out of $ 5.8 billion exported by Russia as a whole.

Rosoboronexport has orders of $ 12 billion through 2007, but Chemezov said that this year Rosoboronexport can expect to make $ 1 billion less in revenues.

"The reason? Our companies cannot produce more modern weapons. The industry is in need of investment either from private companies or from the state," he said. "Today we sell weapons that were designed in the late 1970s and early 1980s." Rosoboronexport plans to boost control over defense production by placing its directors on the boards of arms makers and buying stakes, Chemezov said.

Chemezov said that all sales are strictly in line with international agreements and do not violate any United Nations sanctions.

"However, if some country, including the United States, makes its own decision on sanctions , pardon us, we are not obliged to do as America says," Chemezov said.

Last month, Israel and the United States expressed concern about the possible sale of SA-18 surface-to-air missiles to Syria.

Asked whether any such contract was discussed during Syrian President Bashar Assad's recent visit or is planned, Chemezov said: "No."

[Happy2BMe]

"The Valley of Megiddo is only a few hundred yards wide, and not more than a mile in depth. The Valley of Jazreel is very large, but the Bible is very clear that they are not one and the same."

==============================

Enlightened One - please expose the truth and light the way with Scripture.

[Happy2BMe]

A White Sepulcher - a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Sanhedrin would invite that one in with open arms.

[Beckwith]

I thought that was our job?

[GarySpFc]

Firstly, I have been there. Have you?

Secondly, I can quote verse and Scripture, but you obviously place the authority of Hal Lindsay over the Word of God.

[GarySpFc]

The plain of Esdralon (Greek form of `Jezreel used in Greek writers (Judith 1:8) for general area of Plain of Megiddo), extends across the breadth of the entire country, between Mount Carmel, Mount Gilboa and the hills of lower Galilee.

So! I have all the major Hebrew and Greek lexicons, and have worked on major Bible translations. I grant you Esdralon is the Greek form of Jezreel, but that is not Megiddo. The author above is making a leap of faith in implying they are the same. Tell Megiddo borders both the Valley of Jazreel and the Valley of Armageddon. Jazreel borders on the North and the Valley of Megiddo borders on the SW and runs up to Mt. Caramel. They are not one and the same. The picture clearly shows Jazreel, and that is the secret Israeli airbase in the middle of the picture.

[Camel Joe]

I'm not really concerned. Russian equipment is crap compared to NATO "ie:American" and the Saudi's know it. Look how much good it did the Tali-ban and our old pal Saddam. Chechen tensions won't allow such a union at any rate. I believe some of the Belson foreigners were Saudi as well.

[Happy2BMe]

You have much knowledge.

1Cr 8:1

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

[GarySpFc]

A man makes an idol with his mind prior to making it with his hands.

For I "determined to know" nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Co 2:2) The Holy Bible Holman Christian standard version. 2003

[Happy2BMe]

Instead of hering the sounds of many mighty rushing waters I am hearing the sounds of sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.

[PhilDragoo]

Thank you. We are on the verge of major changes.

[GarySpFc]

Christ is the judge of what is true love.

[Happy2BMe]

"Christ is the judge of what is true love."

[GarySpFc]

I have no argument with that.

[Happy2BMe]

John 3:16 is rock solid ground to be standing on.

[American in Israel]

Not trying to slam you, but your premise that Meggido is too small for it to be the sight of the battle is to ignore that the battle has been fought "there" before. You are ignoring the common usage of the term for the valley. When you drive through there the street signs say Meggido. Meggido is literally a tell on the edge so to speak. But to say that the San Francisco Bay area cannot possibly be San Francisco because a city cannot be in a bay is somewhat the same.

Besides, I do not dispute what you know, it is what you don't know... While you are technically correct, the battle will take place, even if you hold a sign on the edge of the valley in protest. -grin-

[sukhoi-30mki]

Umm,the KSA has around 80 F-15S fighter-bombers(not F-16s)-those things can reach New Delhi with fuel tanks,so why talk about the range to reach Tel-Aviv??Last year the Israelis expressed concern that a Jihadi pilot may take off in his F-15S & launch a suicide strike on a Israeli civilian facility.

[sukhoi-30mki]

If Russian weapons are so bad(& Im not talking about 70s era junk sold to Saddam or left behind by the Red Army in Afghanistan),why are countries like Greece,South Korea,the UAE & Kuwait buying stuff from Russia??If you didn't know,all those nations are American buyers.& Why are the Eastern European nations like Poland & the Czech Republic intent on upgrading their Soviet helos & jets when they can easily buy American ones?

[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

[GarySpFc]

John 3:16 is rock solid ground to be standing on.

But you are equating premillenialism with Christianity. Check around and you will find the majority of Bible believing Christians are not premillenial, and your end-times belief system was not that of the early Christians.

Go learn what the term "Hypostatic Union" means as it relates to John 3:16, and then come back and talk to me.

[ericthecurdog]

Eh... sounds like the IAF needs to buy more green and white paint... lots of little flags to be painted on lots of little fuselages in the near future.