SERBIAN WEAPONS GET GREEN LIGHT FOR EXPORT TO ARMENIA

Agence France Presse — English
January 10, 2007 Wednesday 6:04 PM GMT

The Serbian government on Wednesday approved a deal enabling the
republic’s main arms factory to export weapons to Armenia, following
a green light from Russia.

"The ministry of international economic relations issued a licence
to the Zastava Weapons factory for exports of arms to Armenia,"
the government said in a statement.

The licence was given after a weeks-long dispute between the factory
and the government over the 2.5-million-dollar (1.9-million-euros)
deal to sell guns and rifles to Armenia.

Serbia’s foreign ministry initially refused to agree to the exports,
quoting a possible dispute with Russia over its tense relations
with Armenia.

Following a protest by the Serbian manufacturer, President Boris
Tadic had held talks with Russian diplomats and secured a green light.

Serbia considers Russia a traditional ally and relies on Moscow’s
support in solving the status issue of the disputed UN-run province
of Kosovo, later this year.

Zastava, based in the central Serbian city of Kragujevac, some 120
kilometers (70 miles) south from Belgrade, is a state-owned factory
and needs a government clearance for exports deals.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress