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Sharon says Putin told him Russia will sell missiles to Syria
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Tuesday he has been informed by President Vladimir Putin that Russia will go ahead with the sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, despite Israel's misgivings. Sharon said he is unhappy about Russia's decision. Israel fears the missiles will be supplied to Islamic militant groups in Lebanon. "We are not pleased with the sales of weapons to Syria," Sharon told a news conference.Sharon said he had been promised by Putin in a meeting more than two years ago the missiles would not be sold to Syria. Sharon said he has not yet read Putin's letter, received Tuesday, but he understood "they (the Russians) are going to sell that kind of weapon to the Syrians." "We, of course, worry about that, and don't think that that should have happened. We are in constant contact with the Russians in order to settle this issue and ensure that these weapons don't reach terror organizations located in Lebanon." Syrian President Bashar Assad said after a visit to Moscow last month the missiles would not pose a threat to Israel.
Posted by: Steve White 2005-02-16 |
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