DATE=7/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251495
TITLE=RUSSIA / SYRIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD HAS ENDED TALKS IN MOSCOW
WITH SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIALS. AS CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA
REPORTS FROM THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL, THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, AS WELL AS BILATERAL ISSUES WERE DISCUSSED.
TEXT: THIS WAS SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD'S FIRST VISIT TO
MOSCOW SINCE 1990, WHEN HE MET WITH THEN-SOVIET LEADER MIKHAIL
GORBACHEV. SO IT WAS NO SURPRISE THAT VARIOUS RUSSIAN
OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THIS VISIT AS A LANDMARK EVENT FOR THE TWO
COUNTRIES.
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN GREETED MR. ASSAD IN THE KREMLIN,
SAYING HE IS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN MIDDLE EAST POLITICS AND AN
OLD FRIEND OF RUSSIA.
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAS THE MAIN TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS, WHO WERE JOINED IN THE TALKS BY RUSSIAN
FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV. AFTER THE MEETING, MR. IVANOV TOLD
REPORTERS MOSCOW MUST PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN FINDING A LASTING
PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
// IVANOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE //
MR. IVANOV SAID -- SYRIA VALUES GREATLY THE ROLE PLAYED BY RUSSIA
AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN TRYING TO PEACEFULLY RESOLVE THE SITUATION
IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO CALLED FOR
SYRIA AND ISRAEL TO RESUME THEIR DIALOGUE.
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS DID NOT COMMENT ON WHETHER THE TWO SIDES
DISCUSSED POSSIBLE SYRIAN PURCHASES OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS AND
MILITARY EQUIPMENT. BUT VARIOUS RUSSIAN PUBLICATIONS SAID THAT
WAS THE REAL REASON FOR MR. ASSAD'S VISIT, SINCE DURING SOVIET
TIMES, MOSCOW WAS SYRIA'S LARGEST ARMS PROVIDER.
// OPT // THE "KOMMERSANT" DAILY SAYS SYRIA IS IN THE PROCESS OF
MODERNIZING ITS ARMED FORCES AND WANTS TO BUY TOP-OF-THE-LINE
FIGHTER JETS SUCH AS MIG-29'S. "KOMMERSANT" ALSO SAYS SYRIA
WANTS TO PURCHASE UPGRADED AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS AND MODERN T-80
TANKS. THE NEW WEAPONS DEAL COULD BRING RUSSIA AN ESTIMATED
TWO-BILLION DOLLARS OVER FIVE YEARS. "KOMMERSANT" SAYS MR. ASSAD
IS IN MOSCOW TO FINALIZE THE DEAL AND IRON OUT ANY LAST-MINUTE
PROBLEMS. // END OPT //
IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN
SAYS MOSCOW PLANS TO INCREASE ITS ARMS EXPORTS TO FUND ITS
MILITARY AND BOOST ITS GLOBAL INFLUENCE. MR. STEPASHIN MADE
THOSE COMMENTS DURING A MEETING OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENTS'
DEFENSE COMMITTEE.
THE ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY QUOTES MR. STEPASHIN AS SAYING GREATER
MILITARY COOPERATION WITH OTHER NATIONS WOULD PLAY A BIG ROLE IN
STRENGTHENING RUSSIA'S POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD.
(SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF/RAE
06-Jul-99 11:55 AM EDT (1555 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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