| The report "Weapons supplies to developing | | | | Iran. In two words, Russia became "champion in |
| countries 1998-2005" published by the research | | | | weapons export" through not only India and China, |
| service of the USA Congress contains data claiming | | | | but also Iran. |
| that last year Russia became number one in weapons | | | | And this is the second point that causes hesitations |
| export to developing countries with the total sum of | | | | about objectivity and reliability of the analysis held by |
| supplies contracts amounted to 7.1 billion dollars. | | | | the research service of the Congress. Warlike |
| According to this document, excerpts from which | | | | equipment and arms export has always been quite a |
| were published with comments in The New York | | | | politically loaded issue. While marking Russian success |
| Times, Moscow beat Washington, which took the | | | | in weapons trade the US report distinctly remarks |
| third position with its 6.2 billion dollars contracts. The | | | | upon their backsliding from leading positions in this |
| second position belongs to France: it sold weapons on | | | | chart. Interestingly, this happens straight prior to the |
| 6.3 billion dollars, according to the US Congress. | | | | Congress elections. The report claims that the States |
| However, several facts of the "sensational" | | | | have lost a considerable share of the weapons |
| document cause serious doubts. First of all, data | | | | market since 2004. That year the US did 9.4 billion |
| provided by the US Congress do not gee with the | | | | dollars on weapons trade while Russia did only 5.4, |
| information spread in the beginning of the year by | | | | and now Russia is one billion dollars ahead. The |
| the Federal commission of military-technical | | | | conclusion which is likely to get into many people of |
| cooperation of Russia where the volume of Russian | | | | electional age minds is quite predictable: to vote for |
| weapons export in 2005 was estimated 6.126 billion | | | | democrats who can bring back our leadership in |
| dollars. The sum can be considered record as in | | | | weapons trade which means new jobs, new |
| recent years Russian exporters could hardly reach | | | | earnings... |
| the verge of 5 billion dollars. It seems logical to be | | | | It is necessary to mention that weapons export |
| interested in clarification of the 1 billion difference in | | | | affairs in the States are not on the decline. In 2005 |
| the Congress and the Federal commission data. | | | | the US income from weapons trade was |
| Washington didn't beat about the bush to find an | | | | inconsiderably smaller than in 2004, besides, Russian |
| explanation of the difference mentioned above: their | | | | achievements in this sphere don't look that |
| comments indicated the fact that they also included | | | | impressive in comparison with just one of the US |
| Russian export of several land anti-aircraft defense | | | | contracts - 7 billion dollars contract with Turkey. |
| systems (zenith-missile complex TOR-M1) to Iran. At | | | | Moreover, the US also provides NATO countries with |
| the same time the report didn't emphasize the fact | | | | weapons as well, while the mentioned market zone is |
| whether Moscow had already supplied the systems | | | | deadly closed for Russian weapons suppliers. |
| to Teheran or not. It only informed that the affair | | | | The General assembly of NATO has recently made a |
| cost 700 thousand dollars and that apart from | | | | decision to organize a special group to work out new |
| zenith-missile complex Russia had also sold 8 air | | | | international regulations concerning weapons trade |
| tankers to Iran. Besides, Washington included Russian | | | | and export. Experts hope that after the regulations |
| help concerning Teheran's military equipment | | | | come into force data on the achievements in this |
| modernization into the volume of Russian supplies to | | | | sphere will be more truthful and reliable. |