Despite Calls to Cease Trading, Russia Supplies Syria with Arms

Local Editor

Despite international pressure on Syria to cease trading, Moscow continues to supply weapons to Damascus. “While no sanctions are announced, while there are no orders or directions from the government, we are obliged to fulfil our contractual obligations, which we are now doing”, the head of the arms export agency said Anatoly Isaikin told journalists on Wednesday. Speaking at the MAKS international airshow outside Moscow the Rosoboron export chief said that Russia supplied Syria with Yak-130 jet trainers and military hardware. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Russia to stop selling arms to Damascus. Clinton suggested that China and India impose energy sanctions on Syria and that Russia should cease selling weapons to its long-term trading partner. "We want to see Russia cease selling arms to the Assad regime," Clinton said in an interview with CBS News. Russia this month backed a UN Security Council statement condemning "the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities," although it refused to support firmer sanctions.

Source: Agencies

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