04.04.2004, 14.50

SANTIAGO, April 4 (Itar-Tass) - The annual volume of Russian export of weapons to Latin America worth 100 million U.S. dollars is quite feasible over the next few years. Taking into account repair work of aircraft in Peru and a possible contract for Su-35 for the Brazilian Air Force, the growth in arms deliveries can be even higher, consultant of the American department of the Rosoboronexport company Alexander Betenekov said at the FEDAE-2004 exhibition on Sunday.

According to the consultant, “the volumes of Russian deliveries to Latin America amounted between 20 and 40 million dollars annually over the past few years and became a good prerequisite for the start of serious work in the region”.

Latin American countries had purchased mostly second-hand U.S.- and West European-made weapons. Many weapons have become outdated morally and physically, and the military and political leaderships of many countries put the task of their renovation.

“Taking into account this fact, a group of countries has formed, and they are most promising in the Latin American region from our point of view,” Betenekov noted. These are Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Chile and Uruguay.

Another group of countries are traditional partners of Russia since Soviet times – Cuba, Nicaragua and Peru. These countries had received great quantities of Soviet-made military hardware which is now outdated morally and physically. “We are ready to make them appealing proposals on repairing and updating this hardware and weapons. Peru is the most promising among these three countries,” Betenekov said in conclusion.


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