Head of Russian arms exporter praises cooperation with Belarus
Zvyazda, Minsk
26 May 05
Military cooperation between Belarus and Russia is proceeding
apace, the director-general of Russia’s Rosoboroneksport federal
state unitary company, Sergey Chemezov, has said in an interview
with a Belarusian state daily. He gave examples of beneficial
collaboration in arms trade and urged all CIS arms exporters to
forge a single pricing policy in external markets. He said that the
legal framework governing cooperation between Belarusian and Russian
defence companies was adequate. The following is an excerpt from the
interview with Chemezov by Alyaksandr Komlew entitled “Whose armaments
are better?” and published in the Belarusian daily Zvyazda on 26 May:
[Komlew] What defines military cooperation in the post-Soviet space?
[Chemezov] Russia has signed bilateral military cooperation agreements
with Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Military cooperation with each
of these nations has country-specific features.
[Passage omitted: Chemezov outlines cooperation with CIS countries]
[Chemezov] Experts have long calculated that involvement in joint
military projects implemented by three or four countries allows the
participants to reduce their costs by 41-50 per cent. As about 500
Russian defence companies cooperate with more than 1,200 enterprises
throughout the CIS, this interaction spurs the economic development of
host nations. It is common knowledge that 103 companies from Russia,
Armenia, Belarus and Ukraine are involved in the manufacture of the
S-300 missile complex.
[Passage omitted: Chemezov says that the disintegration of the Soviet
Union has negatively affected Russia’s military-industrial complex]
[Komlew] What countries are at the forefront of integration?
[Chemezov] Cooperation between Russia and Belarus could be held up
as an example in this respect. The Belarusian-Russian interaction,
which has been accelerating since the late 1990s, translates into an
increasing share of jointly developed weaponry in the Russian arms
exports. Some estimates put it at 30-35 per cent. Another reason behind
this trend is the fact that about a third of all manufacturing and
research facilities is concentrated in Belarus. Also, the leaderships
of both countries are keen on furthering integration.
[Komlew] Did a rupture of ties between defence companies in the wake
of the Soviet Union’s implosion affect arms exports?
[Chemezov] Some companies are still involved in dumping. On the
whole the potential for unbridled competition between CIS weaponry
manufacturers has been exhausted. It is high time to join forces in
the development and sales of weaponry. A single pricing policy is of
utmost importance. If all arms exporters stick to the same prices,
their revenues will jump 10-14 per cent. We are talking about millions
of dollars. Mutual supply contracts promote cooperation between Russia
and Belarus. Agreements for license, duty and quota-free shipments of
more than 600 types of inputs manufactured by 59 Belarusian companies
for 68 defence enterprises in Russia were concluded last year. About
500 types of inputs of Russian manufacture are shipped to 33 Belarusian
defence companies under similar contacts. To a great extent, Russian
and Belarusian arms exporters act in concert.
[Komlew] How would you define the legal framework governing
military-technical cooperation between Russia and Belarus?
[Chemezov] It is fairly efficient. Belarus and Russia have been
cooperating in the military realm since July 1992. Since then several
intergovernmental agreements have been signed. The agreement between
the governments of Russia and Belarus on safeguarding intellectual
property either developed or used in the course of military-technical
cooperation signified another step forward. The parties to this
agreement undertake not to supply third parties with jointly developed
military hardware without the consent of the other party. A similar
agreement was signed between Russia and Kazakhstan early this year.
[Komlew] What role do interstate financial-industrial groups play in
the CIS markets?
[Chemezov] They play an immensely important role in creating a
single technological space both within the framework of the union
state [of Russia and Belarus] and the CIS as a whole. Several
Russian-Belarusian financial-industrial groups exist in the union
state, namely, Oboronitelnyye Sistemy [Defence Systems], BelRusAuto,
Electronic Technologies, etc. The possible involvement of Ukrainian
companies in Oboronitelnyye Sistemy is currently being considered.
[Komlew] What areas are most promising in the Belarusian-Russian
military cooperation?
[Chemezov] The overhaul and modernization of military hardware,
including Su-22, Su-27, MiG-29 planes, Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters,
BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-60 and BTR-70
armoured personnel carriers, S-300B anti-aircraft systems, as well
as communication equipment, hold the greatest promise. Specifically,
more than 100 Belarusian companies are involved in modernization of
Soviet-made weaponry. A Russian-Belarusian centre for servicing,
modernization and repairs of air defence equipment set up by
Oboronpromservice holds a great deal of promise. This interstate
body will make sure that air defence hardware stationed in Belarus,
Kaliningrad Region and the northwest of Russia is properly
serviced. We also pursue a number of international projects. For
example, Rosoboroneksport, [Belarusian state weaponry exporter]
Beltekhekspart and [Belarusian optical instrument maker] Pelenh along
with France’s Thales are taking part in a tender for a contract to
supply India with a fire control system for T-72M1 tanks. The fire
control system is based on the Belarusian-made Sosna-U daylight and
night multichannel heat imaging sight.
[Passage omitted: Chemezov praises the MILEX defence industry show
in Minsk]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress