July 1, 2002 - 19:12 AMT
INFORMATION ON SALE OF ANTIAIRCRAFT MISSILE COMPLEXES BY RUSSIA TO ARMENIA FALSE
The report of "Middle East Newsline" Internet agency on sale of C-300 antiaircraft missile complexes by Russia to Armenia is false. Press secretary of the Armenian defense minister Seyran Shahsuvarian told "Arminfo" agency about it. In his words, any sale of antiaircraft missile complexes to Armenia has never been the point. As Seyran Shahsuvarian noted, such equipment was only set at the 102-nd Russian military base located in the town of Gyumri. Let us remind that the delivery of the elements of the system of antiaircraft missile complexes to Armenia began in February 1999. The new materiel had to replace the old antiaircraft missile system not fitting the contemporary conditions. The official ceremony of beginning the permanent joint combat duty of the forces and air defense means of Russia and Armenia began October 3, 2001. The topic was touched by "MEN" agency in connection with the negotiations between Moscow and Ankara on selling C-300 antiaircraft missile complexes to Turkey.