MOSCOW, 17 September 2005 — Russia has shelved a plan to give the Palestinians 50 armored personnel carriers after Middle East peace brokers told Moscow it could harm efforts to stabilize the region, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
One diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russia could still go ahead with a separate plan to supply Palestinians with two transport helicopters as announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in April.
“The parties involved said the (carriers) deal would not be advisable,” the source said, without specifying which Middle East brokers had moved to block the incentive. Another diplomat linked the possible delay to the recent chaos in the Gaza Strip that followed Israel’s withdrawal from the territory.
During a visit to the Palestinian territories in April, Putin vowed to supply the helicopters for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He made no mention of the vehicles after Israel expressed concern with the deal. But industry sources later said Moscow remained interested in supplying the carriers and saw them as part of its ambition to revive its Soviet-era influence in the region.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, the state arms export authority and the defense ministry all declined to comment. Russia, along with the United States, United Nations and European Union, is a member of the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators.
