MOSCOW, - Regional turmoil and Israeli disapproval will not foil a $300m cruise missile deal with Syria, Russia has announced.
”The deal is in the application stage,” Russia Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told the AFP Saturday.
Russia had initially agreed to deliver the largest shipment of Eachnot anti-tank cruise missiles in 2007 under a deal revealed by Serdyukov in September 2010.
Since publicized, the deal has angered Israel and the US after speculations that Russia would pull out amid turmoil in the Mideast and North Africa.
Under the deal, Russia will supply Syria with 72 cruise missiles for $300m, but Russia has yet to confirm making any shipments of Eachnot missiles, and it is still unclear when the agreement will fall through.
Serdyukov's comments came during Russian efforts to keep its line of military exports open in the Middle East despite upheavals and social unrest shaking the region.
The trend of toppling regimes in the region could cost Russia around 10 billion dollars in contracts, a source in the Russia arms export industry said this week.
Serdyukov said violence could push Russia to abandon customers it has been dealing with since the Soviet era.
”There is a possibility we could lose out,” Serdyukov said during a visit to the city of Vladivostok.
”But I hope the main arms deals will be finalized,” he added.
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