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http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=190032



Ukraine reaches $2.5B arms deal with Iraq

Posted: 12/9/2009



KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A senior Ukrainian lawmaker says Ukraine has reached an agreement to supply $2.5 billion worth of weapons to Iraq .



Anatoly Grytsenko, the chairman of the Ukrainian's parliament's security and defense committe, said Wednesday the deal will see Ukraine provide Iraq with 420 armored personnel carriers, 6 AN-32B cargo planes and other military hardware. Grytsenko formerly served as Ukraine 's defense minister.



The deal would mark a major advance in efforts to shore up Iraq 's armed forces before the United States pulls its troops out of the country by the end of 2011 under a plan outlined early this year by President Barack Obama.



Grytsenko told The Associated Press that he was briefed on the agreement Wednesday by state arms exporter UkrSpetsExport, which is handling the contracts.

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Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust - Nation - Ukraine signs first of set of contracts for supplying arms worth $550 m to Iraq



Ukraine signs first of set of contracts for supplying arms worth $550 m to Iraq



Today at 20:22 | Interfax-Ukraine Ukraine has signed the first of a set of large-scale contracts to supply arms worth over $550 million to Iraq, Stepan Havrysh, the first deputy of the National Security and Defense Council secretary, said at a press conference at the presidential secretariat on Friday.



According to Havrysh, state enterprise Progres, a subsidiary of state arms exporter Ukrspetsexport, signed the contract on behalf of the Ukrainian side.



The contract foresees the supply of over 400 armored vehicles within 3-3.5 years, in particular, BTR-4 armored cars, about ten An-32 aircraft, and providing services on aircraft repairs.



Over 80 Ukrainian enterprises will take part in realizing the contract. The major participants in the contract will be Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau and Kharkiv-based state enterprise Malyshev Plant.



According to Havrysh, the process of signing the contract started three years ago and became a "follow-up" of Ukraine 's participating in the peacekeeping mission in Iraq .



Havrysh said that Russia and Poland were also viewed as potential suppliers of weapons to Iraq .



Havrysh said that the role of the head of state in signing the contract was very important, as he secured the visit of National Security and Defense Council Secretary Raisa Bohatyriova to Iraq .



Havrysh expressed regret for the position of the cabinet in the deal, due to which, he said, at a certain stage talks with Iraq were suspended and the signing by the government of a guarantee letter for the contract was blocked.