Russia says no link between fighter planes and Darfur conflict

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Aug 21, 2004 (PANA) — Russia has dismissed any connection
between its sending fighter planes to Sudan and the
escalating conflict in the African country’s western
region of Darfur.

Russian envoy to UN Andrei Denazoff, was quoted by the
government-owned Sudan Media Centre (SMC) Saturday
as saying the sending of Russian fighters to Sudan was
under an agreement signed between the two countries
in 2001.

A US official has reportedly blamed Russia for providing
Sudan with the fighter planes while the Darfur conflict is
waging.

London-based Amnesty International has also chided Russia
for shipping warplanes to Sudan at a time when Khartoum was
under international pressure for allegedly providing
military support to an Arab militia, the Janjaweed accused
of human rights violations in a conflict that has killed
some 30,000 people and displaced one million in Darfur.

Russian had earlier justified its arms trade with Sudan,
saying the business did not breach any international
commitments.

Diplomatic sources said under the contract, 10 MiG-29SE
fighter planes and two MiG-29UB training planes should
be exported to Sudan by December this year.

Meanwhile, the SMC has quoted the Sudan ambassador to Moscow
Chol Deng Alak as saying the new MiGs would not be used to
attack indigenous black tribes in Darfur, but were bought
to prevent Sudan from becoming “an easy target” for other
nations.

“We are very satisfied with the delivery. We need these jets
to safeguard our economic interests,” Alak added.

Khartoum is under increasing pressure from the international
community to reign in the Janjaweed.