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Russia ready to sell Syria arms Russia eyes new Syria arms deal
(about 1 hour later)
Moscow is ready to sell new weapons to Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said. Moscow has announced it is ready to sell new weapons to Syria, triggering alarm from Israel.
Mr Lavrov said any sales of weapons of "a defensive character" would not change the strategic balance in the Middle East, without elaborating. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said any arms sales of "a defensive character" would not change the strategic balance in the Middle East.
His comments came as the Syrian and Russian leaders held talks in Russia. But Israel's foreign minister said such sales could destabilise the region.
Before the talks in Sochi, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had spoken on the need to speed up military and technical co-operation with Russia. The comments came as Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met at Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.
The two countries are preparing deals on anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems, reports say. Moscow and Damascus are reportedly preparing deals on anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems, as well as surface-to-surface Iskander missiles.
Israel and the US have been critical of Russian arms sales to Syria. Israel's foreign minister accused Syria of links with terrorists
Tzipi Livni, Israeli foreign minister, told a news conference in Jerusalem: "Russia has its own interests in the region and nobody wants to destabilise the region.
"And I think according to this assessment it is of mutual interest of Russia, Israel and pragmatic leaders of states in the region not to send this kind of long-range missiles to Syria."
She also said Syria was linked to Iran, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Palestinian militants Hamas.
Before the talks in Sochi, Syria's president had spoken of the need to speed up military and technical co-operation with Russia.
Syria was a close ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.Syria was a close ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Support over Georgia
Relations between Moscow and Damascus have been getting closer recently - this visit is Mr Assad's third to Russia in three years.Relations between Moscow and Damascus have been getting closer recently - this visit is Mr Assad's third to Russia in three years.
Mr Assad said on Thursday Russia's military campaign in Georgia was justified. Mr Assad said on Thursday Russia's military campaign in Georgia was a justified response to provocation from Tbilisi.
"I want to voice support for Russia over the situation around Abkhazia and South Ossetia... We understand the essence of the Russian position and consider its military reaction a response to provocation by the Georgian side," Mr Assad said according to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass.
Russia has been strongly criticised by the West for its military operations in Georgia launched earlier this month.Russia has been strongly criticised by the West for its military operations in Georgia launched earlier this month.