Belarusian dictator buying Russian weapons in bulk

The authorities are increasing volumes of purchasing weapons. Weapons are sold at inner Russian prices within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

CSTO deputy secretary general Valery Semerikov said CSTO members can buy weapons and equipment at inner Russian prices, Interfax reports.

“The number of requests for buying Russian armament and equipment increased three times in 2008. It concerns deliveries to Armenia and Belarus first of all,” the CSTO deputy secretary general said.

According to Valery Semerikov, he positively estimates implementation of the agreement on main principles of military and technical cooperation signed within the CSTO. “This agreement is now in force,” the CSTO representative emphasized.

“The program on military and technical cooperation supposes equipping the collective military forces with similar weapons,” Valery Semerikov noted.

Ivan Materov, a representative of the Interstate Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation, said an issue on preparing an agreement on transferring Russian equipment and materiel standards within the CSTO frames was discussed at the session in Minsk on May 20.

“This agreement can’t be adopted now due to small contradictions with the Russian legislation, the Russian party will have formed its vision of the issue by July 15, and this document will possible be considered at a session of the Interstate Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation in Tajikistan in November,” Ivan Materov told.

Russia may also satisfy a request of official Minsk for buying S-400 air defence systems and Iskander missile systems in the nearest time.

CSTO secretary general Nikolai Bordyuzha said this at the beginning of the week. According to him, “a question of delivering S-400 air defence systems and Iskander missile systems will be solved positively for Belarus.”

It was reported before with a reference to General Lieutenant Vadim Volkovitsky, first deputy commander of the Russian air force, head of the Russian Joint Staff, had negotiations in Minsk on delivery of S-400 systems to Belarus within the frames of the development of the joint regional air defense system.

The S-400 missile system is developed and produced by Almaz-Antei concern. The Russian army has two S-400 regiments.

Israeli media referring to a source close to the Kremlin said the Belarus was going to sell Iskanders to Iran and Syria.

The S-400 Triumph is designed to destroy airborne targets (including stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, at a distance of up to 400 kilometers. According to experts say S-400 Triumph exceed all similar missiles.

Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Yury Zhadobin, President's Aide on National Security Viktar Lukashenka

Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski and State Secretary of the "union state" Pavel Borodin

Photo by Nasha Niva