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Igor Belayev: “Half Of Russian Arms Sold In Africa Were Purchased By Algeria”

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Igor Belayev: “Half Of Russian Arms Sold In Africa Were Purchased By Algeria”
ح.م

The Russian Ambassador in Algeria, His Excellency Mr. Igor Belayev, revealed that about half of the Russian arms sold in Africa are purchased by the state of Algeria.

In an exclusive interview with the Russian news agency “Sputnik”, the Russian Ambassador posted in Algiers said: “Algeria’s heavy demand for Russian weapons is due to many reasons, but it is most notably due to the long-standing historical links existing between the two friendly countries since Algeria’s independence.”

“Russian-Algerian relations are multifaceted, and technical military cooperation between the two countries is one of the main trends in bilateral relations.

The historical factor also plays an important role to this day because Russia carried out many contributions before and after Algeria gained its hard-won independence”, he underscored.

“There are other factors today that have contributed to enhancing Algerian interest in acquiring Russian weapons, including the volatile regional situation currently gripping several countries in the Middle East and Africa, where the terrorism plague is growing in North Africa, especially in Libya, which has become controlled by armed groups,” he pointed out.

The Russian Ambassador also underlined that Algeria is a historical friend of Russia and the two countries enjoy strong economic, political and cultural relations.

He also pointed to the existence of a close cooperation between Russia and Algeria in the resolute fight against the terrorism scourge, adding that an unwise policy pursued by some ill-advised quarters in some countries meant to change the regimes in the Middle East and North Africa had resulted in the spread of terrorism in the region, where the movement of terrorists from one place to another is seen as a threat to the security of Algeria and Russia alike.

“Working together to develop high-tech weapons requires the availability of highly skilled personnel and the necessary political will”, he asserted.

“Algeria is one of the largest buyers of Russian arms in the Middle East and North Africa. The most prominent weapons purchased by Algeria are the T-90 tanks and the S-300 air defense systems”, he further said to this effect.

On Russia’s position on the Western Sahara issue, the Russian Ambassador explained that “Moscow is keen to take the position in favor of the smooth implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

Russia, he said, supports what the United Nations’ delegates are doing to organize the long-delayed self-determination referendum in Western Sahara.

It also backs up the ongoing efforts of the special envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Horst Koehler to re-launch direct negotiations between the two parties at issue namely Morocco and the Polisario Front with the aim of thrashing out a settlement of the lingering Western Sahara issue. “

Asked about his contacts with the Algerian head of state, the Russian diplomat recalls in great detail a meeting of the Russian delegation led in January by the secretary of the Russian Security Council with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

“The meeting lasted almost an hour, he said, and the atmosphere was very friendly. We discussed the regional situation and bilateral relations. The Algerian President loves our country, our culture, he knows the works of the famous Russian writers and the interviews were held in a very warm atmosphere. When we were to depart, the President firmly shook hands with all of us,” concluded the Russian Ambassador.

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