RUSSIA LIMITS PORTABLE SAM EXPORTS
RIA Novosti
MOSCOW, February 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is limiting exports of man-carried anti-aircraft missile launchers, and establishes harsh monitoring of purchaser areas, with the most stringent arrangements for conflict zones, Sergei Chemezov said to a news conference in Moscow. He is Director General of the Rosoboronexport, Russia's sole government mediator of arms deals.
A reporter asked him about his company's stance on SAM sales control, which an upcoming Russia-NATO summit, due in Bratislava, Slovakia, is expected to establish. "We naturally support the idea," was the reply.
Russia will be unable to step up arms exports unless capital investment in the military-industrial complex dramatically increases, warned Mr. Chemezov. "We are closely approaching our export ceiling-five to six billion US dollars. It will be hard to make more progress. Industrial companies have no chance to update their produce-that's why. R&D bureaus may be working on, but industry cannot afford to implement their achievements." Bigger investments may cure the matter, private and government alike, "though government investment will be preferable," he added.
The Rosoboronexport has offered finance aid to more than twenty companies of the Russian military-industrial complex. "We came as guarantors to give a total $151 million to twenty five companies."
The military-industrial complex is setting up new holding groups and the Rosoboronexport hopes for representation in their Directors' Boards. It is not out for their control stock, reassured Mr. Chemezov. Nevertheless, he deems such presence necessary "to control developments from within".
"We are present in the Sukhoi and Almaz/Antei [Russia's leading corporate aircraft designers and manufacturers], and in practically all emergent holdings through government blocks or the stock we are purchasing-and we shall go on with it."
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