Sudan asks Russia $1 billion military equipment loan
Oct 19, 2006 (MOSCOW) — The Sudanese defense minister held talks today here with Russian official requesting Moscow to secure a one US billion arms loan to pay more military airplanes, a Russian report said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Sudanese Defense Minister Abdelrahim Hussein on Thursday 19 October. The Sudanese official asked Russia to sell military jets and helicopters to his county.
Moscow has not given any reply yet.
According to the Russian English language electronic newspaper, Kommersant, Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir sent a letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, asking to sell a large consignment of military jets and helicopters to his country.
Sudan’s Defense Minister Abdelrahim Hussein came to Moscow a special envoy of President Omar el-Bashir.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the news conference that talks focused on the Darfur crisis.
“All solutions should be based on respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sudan as well as the choice of the Sudanese,” Sergey Lavrov said yesterday. He reiterated that Russia is set to assist any efforts in settling the Darfur crisis.
Sudan’s leadership has devised a plan on the total re-equipment and modernization of the country’s military forces. The program is for 25 years. Omar el-Bashir offers Russia the role of the key partner. Under the plan, Moscow will provide the Sudanese army with modern weapons and train local specialists to work with new technology, the report said.
However, what these ambitious plans lack is real financial backing. Khartoum simply does not have enough money for the rearmament program. Therefore, the Sudanese ask Russian for.
Moscow is not enthusiastic about the idea of $1 billion in a long-term loan.
The Kremlin still has disquieting memories of multi-billion military supplies to “progressive regimes” which burdened Soviet economy in the 1970s-1980s. At that time, arms were also sold on credit. Moscow ended up with almost none of the debtor paying the money back.
As far as Sudan goes, Moscow should not hope to receive real money even in 25 years’ time. Experts say that the country, devastated by the civil war, will be unable to clear any credits.
(Kommersant)