- MOSCOW - Egypt is negotiating
for the purchase of nuclear technology, missiles and spy satellites from
Russia in what is being termed as the most significant effort to acquire
advanced Russian systems in more than 20 years.
-
- In Washington, a U.S. official said the Cairo effort
could mark a major change in Egyptian policy just weeks after President
Hosni Mubarak visited Washington seeks enhanced strategic ties.
-
- Under Mubarark, deliveries in Russian weapons were
sharply
reduced over the last decade as Cairo bought U.S. systems for its air
force,
army and navy. Egypt receives $1.3 billion a year in U.S. military
aid.
-
- The Egyptian interest in advanced Russian weapons was
reported by both Russian and Egyptian diplomatic sources in Moscow, Middle
East Newsline reported. The sources said Cairo also wants Moscow to build
a nuclear reactor in Egypt.
-
- Mubarak held talks in Moscow with Russian leaders on
Thursday. Mubarak is leading a delegation of senior ministers who have
held talks with their Russian counterparts on defense and technological
cooperation. The Egyptian president is scheduled to visit a Russian missile
factory and the London-based Al Hayat daily reported on Thursday that he
is also expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.
-
- Egypt and Russia have already agreed to encourage
investments
and cooperate in science and technology. The two countries also pledged
to cooperate in nuclear energy and space cooperation. Officials said the
nuclear cooperation would be limited to civilian use.
-
- Mubarak is scheduled to attend the signing of an
Egyptian-Russian
cooperation accord in Moscow on Friday.
-
- Egyptian sources said Cairo has increased its cooperation
with Moscow in the nuclear field. They said Egypt bought an electronic
accelerator from Russia and has been receiving training from Moscow. The
accelerator produces radioactive isotopes and was purchased through the
Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.
-
- But both Egyptian and Russian sources said the two
countries
were discussing military cooperation and procurement by Cairo of Russian
defense systems. The official Cairo-based Middle East News Agency said
the Mubarak delegation is also discussing such projects as remote-sensing
and the manufacture of medium-range missiles.
-
- Another project being discussed is a joint production
of the TU 204-120 aircraft in Egypt. Two Tupolev passenger and one cargo
aircraft were delivered to Egypt in 1998 and 1999.
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- All of these projects were expected to be raised during
Mubarak's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
Mubarak,
a former Egyptian air force chief, is said to be personally familiar with
Russian weapons.
-
- In Washington, a U.S. official said the administration
was following Mubarak's talks with his Russian hosts.
-
- Trade between Russia and Egypt collapsed in the late
1990s amid Russia's economic crisis and disputes over investment
issues..
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