«FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE» Reminds of Belarus’ Arms Sale to Iraq :: Charter'97 :: News

Influential German periodical “Frankfurter Allgemeine” writes that roughly 80% of weapons with which Iraq fights against the US-British alliance, had been manufactured in the former USSR and post-Soviet Russia. According to their calculations, over thirty years preceding the UN-imposed embargo, Soviet Union shipped to Iraq $30bln worth of weapons, selling as many as 60 licenses for arms production, many of which remain in effect even up to date. No doubt, the Iraqi armed forces would be way weaker now, had it not been for the lethal weapons’ suppliers, operating at the Iraqi market during the past 12,5 years of embargo. Famous German journalist Markus Vener mentions Belarus among these arms exporters.

Washington was aware about the military cooperation between Baghdad and Moscow long ago. However, it raised the problem of contraband ammunition export not until Kremlin started criticizing the actions of the anti-Iraqi coalition. Among other illegal sellers Americans mention Syria, Ukraine and Belarus.

The German journalist writes that Minsk has the worst imaginable reputation in the eyes of the West. Politically isolated from West, Belarus strongly keeps its positions in pro-Iraqi alliance, along with the countries, suspected of terrorism. As is known, on the official level Moscow always distances herself from the scandals, which implicate her young brother Minsk. The latest row occurred earlier this year in Lisbon, when local police disclosed military cargo from Belarus en route to Iraq via Syria. The consignment contained tank walkie-talkies and helmets.

Among major crimes, with which Washington charges Minsk, is the training of Iraqi military pilots. Western special sources report that at the moment there are a few operational airdromes in Belarus, from which they deliver suspicious cargo to Iraq secretively from everyone.

The German reporter concludes that one can hardly call the Soviet-Russian ammunition to be strategically vital in the Iraqi conflict. Nonetheless, Moscow and Minsk ignore the political losses, which will follow their many-year long illegal trade with Iraq.