Возможная плата Израиля России за отказ продавать оружие Сирии
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Краткий перевод - Израиль приостанавливает военные поставки Грузии по просьбе России. В числе поставок были модернизации Ельбитом самолетов, стрелковка, и т.д.
Israel to stop arms sales to Georgia
By Yossi Melman
Last Update: 20/02/2005 01:56
Israel has bowed to Russian pressure and will suspend all arms exports to Georgia.
Sources in the arms industries in Israel expressed anger at the "shameful decision" that comes at a time when Russia has refused an Israeli request not to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria.
The Defense Ministry sent directives to all authorized dealers a few weeks ago preventing the sale of arms to Georgia until further notice.
The Russian demand is based on the assumption that areas near the Russian border are serving as a refuge and bases of operation for Chechen rebels.
The Russians say the Israeli arms could fall into Chechen hands. Israel has claimed that, likewise, Syrian anti-aircraft missiles could fall into Hezbollah's hands and be used against Israeli aircraft overflying Lebanon.
Israel has been an important arms supplier for Georgia in the past decade.
The bilateral ties grew even closer after Eduard Schevardnadze was replaced by President Mikhail Saakashvili.
The arms deals between the two countries have amounted to tens of millions of dollars in the past two years and include the upgrading of Georgian Mig-25s by Elbit and the dispatch of Israeli military experts to Georgia.
According to Israeli sources, the decision is an attempt to placate the Russians in the hope that they will suspend their sales to Damascus.
