Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 19:00:41 GMT
Subject: Fw:Syria Buys Arms for Iraq, Ha'aretz
From: rb <chaimberel-AT-juno.com>


---------- Forwarded Message ----------

From: "Laurie Mylroie" <sam11-AT-erols.com>
To: "Laurie Mylroie" <sam11-AT-erols.com>
Subject: Syria Buys Arms for Iraq, Ha'aretz
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 01:33:31 -0400

Ha'aretz
Monday, July 15, 2002 Av 6, 5762 Israel Time:  08:28 (GMT+3)
Syria buys arms for Iraq in Eastern Europe
By Ze'ev Schiff

            Syria, current president of the UN Security Council, is
violating the UN arms embargo on Iraq by sending weapons and military
equipment delivered to Syrian ports on to Iraq via trucks and rail. Most,
but not all, of the supplies come from East European countries. Among other
things, Russian-made jet engines, refurbished Russian tank engines and Czech
anti-aircraft cannon are being delivered to Iraq via this route.

            The sources for this information say the commercial-security
relationship that has developed between the two countries since Bashar Assad
came to power in Damascus, can be considered a significant strategic change
in the region, particularly in light of declared American intentions to
overthrow the Baghdad regime of Saddam Hussein.

            U.S. and Israeli assessments say if the relationship between the
two countries has reached the level of camouflaged weapons deals, it can be
presumed there is more military cooperation between the two countries.

            The Syrian weapons purchases for transfer to Iraq include
refurbished T-55 tank engines and other replacement parts for T-72s, from
Bulgaria and Belarus; military trucks from Russia; anti-aircraft cannon from
the Czech republic; Ukraine and other countries have sold 80 engines for MiG
29s, as well as radar systems for those planes. In addition, spare parts
have been bought by Syria and sent on to Iraq for MiG 21s, 23s and 25s.
Syria has also passed on equipment from Hungary and Serbia to Iraq.

            The weapons transfers put Syria in direct violation of Security
Council embargoes on weapons sales to Iraq. Washington's semipublic
deliberations on toppling Saddam's regime have likely led Iraq to accelerate
purchasing efforts to beef up its military, which is suffering from a lack
of spare parts.

            Damascus has promised Washington help with intelligence on
Qaida, the terrorist network founded by Osama bin Laden, but behind the
scenes is cooperating with Iraq, which the U.S. regards as an enemy.

            The authorization for the weapons purchases must have come from
President Assad himself and is a clear departure from Assad's late father's
attitude toward Saddam Hussein. The late Hafez Assad aligned with the West
against Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War.

            In at least one case, Iraq provided similar help to Syria,
allowing an arms shipment from Iran to Syria to pass through Iraq. For the
purposes of the new commercial alliance, Syria and Iraq established a series
of shell companies for weapons purchases.

            Among those involved is the son of Syrian Defense Minister Firas
Talas, who owns a large holding company in Syria. Talas is also involved in
purchasing oil from Iraq.






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