Gulf official urges Russia to stop arming Assad regime
Thair Abbas Asharq Al-Awsat Tuesday, 14 May, 2013
http://www.aawsat.net/2013/05/article55301682

Doha/Istanbul, Asharq Al-Awsat—Gulf sources have downplayed the recent
Russian statements concerning a weapons deal with Syria.

A military expert has described reports that Russia has supplied Syria with
S-300s missiles as a political maneuver, adding that the intended deal was
for Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missiles. The source added that this is a part
of an old military deal between the two countries, with Syria acting as the
middle-man, and Iran as the final destination.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that Moscow was
putting the final touches to hand over defense missiles to Syria.

Lavrov said that Moscow has no new plans to sell a sophisticated air defense
system to Syria. However, he left the door open for the likelihood of
sending such systems to Damascus in accordance with standing contracts.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Israeli government informed the
United States about an imminent Russian deal to sell anti-aircraft missiles
of the 300-S type to the government of Bashar Al-Assad.

Speaking at a press conference in Poland, Lavrov said, “Russia does not
intend to sell; Russia actually sold them a long time ago. It signed
contracts and is finalizing the operations to hand over the equipment
consisting of anti-aircraft technology in accordance with contracts that had
been agreed upon.”

Lavrov did not specific whether the equipment being actually handed over is
indeed the sophisticated 300-S systems or another air defense systems.

The Russian minister added that this hand-over is in accordance with
international law and that the equipment is designed for defensive purposes
only, adding, “As the importing country, the equipment is intended to
provide Syria with a system to protect itself from air attacks, which is
quite a likely scenario”.

Commenting on the weapons deal, a Gulf official familiar with the Syrian
file hoped Russia would reconsider arming the Assad regime, adding, “The
Russian stance is perplexing in view of the killing and destruction that the
tyrannical Syrian regime is perpetrating. Unfortunately, this stance will
impact adversely on Russia’s future interests in Syria and in the region”.

Moreover, an official Turkish source refused to tie the deployment of
Western Patriot missiles in Turkey to the Russian missiles deal with Syria.
The official said that the goal is to protect Turkish territories from any
“stupid actions” that some may contemplate.

The source also stressed that Iran’s concerns regarding Turkey are
unjustified. “Although we differ with it, we are determined to keep the
relationship with our neighbors at its best level,” the source added.

However, a Turkish strategic expert believes that “everything is possible.”
He added that Turkey is waging an indirect war with the Syrian regime in
many areas and a cold confrontation with Iran and Russia. He said that
economic interests and the concern about a likely war act as a deterrent to
prevent sliding into a worse situation in Iran. The expert added that the
exposure of Iranian cells in Turkey showed Turkish officials beyond any
doubt that Iran is worried about the network of Patriot missiles and that it
is doing its best to avert an Israeli or American military strike.

A source in the Syrian armed opposition told Asharq Al-Awsat that the regime
did indeed receive Russian missile batteries. He said that training is
actually underway for such missile operators, who will be placed at first
under the supervision of Russian experts. Iranian experts are also
participating in the training. The source added that the information
reaching the opposition says that at least one such missile battery has
arrived and been installed in the Syrian coastal region. The second batch
will be installed in other locations, particularly Damascus.

According to Jane’s Defence Weekly, the Pantsir S-1 missiles are among the
most advanced air defense systems available, and the deal to sell them goes
back to 2006 as part of an arms deal amounting to USD 1 billion. The
contract stipulates that the handover should begin in August 2007. According
to the US magazine, Iran is the primary sponsor of the Russian deal with
Syria and is using Syria as a middle-man to procure the missile system. The
arms deal includes 50 missile systems. Iran was set to receive at least 10
of these systems in the beginning of 2008, but the deal was delayed.