FIRST SHIPMENT OF SERBIAN ARMS DUE IN ARMENIA FEBRUARY 15?

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.02.2007 11:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 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 realization 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, reports EASTBUSINESS.ORG.