SERBIA: SHIPMENT OF ARMS TO ARMENIA DELAYED
EASTBUSINESS.ORG
February 12, 2007 Monday 4:47 PM (Central European Time)
The first shipment of arms produced by the Kragujevac-based weapons
manufacturer Zastava Oruzje will head for Armenia toward the end of
the week, although it was announced earlier that the first shipment
would take place in mid-January.
The shipment was delayed due to the complicated procedure for issuing
all the permits necessary for the export of arms. Zastava Oruzje got
the permit to export the first of the two arranged shipments, worth
USD 1.7 million, on January 10th, but the procedure for issuing the
transport and other necessary permits is only now being completed.
Therefore,the actual shipment would take place on February 15th.
The realisation of the second export contract, worth USD 900 000, is
still uncertain, as none of the ministries in charge of this matter
approved the export on the basis of this contract.
According to unofficial reports, the problem is, once again, that
of higher national interests in connection with the status of Kosovo
and Metohija, although Russia had approved the export of arms to the
countries in question, with the exception of Georgia.
As the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Internal Affairs
have not given their consent for issuing a second export permit to
Zastava Oruzje, the final decision on this matter will have to be
made by the Serbian Government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
