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2006-03-14

Russia cancels Algerian debts after military aircraft deal

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 14/03/06

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In an interview in Algiers on Friday (10 March), Alexei Fedorov, general director of the aircraft manufacturer MiG, told the Russian TV television channel Rossia that Russia and Algeria signed contracts for the supply of military aircraft worth over $3.5 billion.

"I would not be breaking any great secret by saying that a large number of aircraft contracts have been signed for Su-30 MKs, MiG 29 SMTs and Yak-130s worth a total of over $3.5 billion," he said.

MiGs and Sus (Sukhoi) are fighter planes, while the Yak-30 is a training aircraft. The contracts are reportedly for 40 MiGs, 28 Su planes and 16 Yaks.

The signing of the contracts was accompanied by the cancellation of the debt owed by Algeria to Russia, which was accumulated during the Soviet era of the 1960s when socialism was an essential aspect of the Algerian political system. This debt, which arose from military deals, is estimated at $4.7 billion.

Sergei Chemezov, director general of the Russian state arms exporting company Rosoboronexport, told Rossia that the total value of Algerian military purchases from Russia, including aircraft, was in excess of $7.5 billion. "The Algerians will receive all the armaments they need within the next four years," the television channel added.

According to the Itar-Tass press agency, Russia is also preparing to provide Algeria with S-300 surface-to-air missile systems and around 40 T-90 tanks. S-300 PMUs are state-of-the-art anti-aircraft defence batteries, a surface-to-air system equally capable of destroying aircraft and enemy missiles.

Aside from the deal on debt and arms purchases, the two countries signed draft co-operation agreements between their chambers of commerce on both the promotion and protection of investments, including on non-double taxation.

APS reports that, "Algeria has pledged to purchase goods and services from Russia equal in value to the debt". It added in co-operation between the two countries, which are already linked by a strategic partnership agreement".

The presidents of both countries, who met face-to-face for three hours and were later joined by members from both delegations, called for further and more varied exchanges and the promotion of partnership in many fields and spheres of activity.

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  1. Anonymous_thumb

    عبد القهار 2010-6-8

    I want Algeria to increase its armament more than this, with all types of developed weapons. I want it to have nuclear warheads, 50,000 warplanes, 80,000 tanks, 40,000,000 missiles, 70,000,000 nuclear warheads, 200,000 submarines and the best industry in our country. I want my country Algeria to be industrialised in all state-of-the-art weapons.

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    ابن الجزائر 2009-10-22

    In the name of God the most gracious the most merciful. First of all, I address special thanks to Algeria which develops arms to defend the dear nation for which our fathers and forefathers made sacrifices. Doesn't this nation deserve to be invulnerable? Therefore, I say to the skeptics: Don't be frightened, our arms are for those who dare attack us. But I don't think anyone can dare. As the messenger of God said, “The strong believer is better than the weak”.

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  3. Anonymous_thumb

    said 2009-2-4

    Look, there is nothing called Western Sahara. There is just a gang of the Polisario who buy arms. You aren’t going to take the Sahara. You Algeria want access to the Atlantic Ocean. You won’t take the Sahara. You needn’t buy arms. You suffer of starvation, in other words, with war or without war.

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    أحمد آفير الجزائري 2009-2-4

    Hi dears. In reality, brothers, the issue of animosity about which Moroccans talk, was made by some hidden sides only. It is not the manufacture of the people. The Algerian people love the Moroccan people. Moreover, most categories of the Algerian people are of Moroccan and eastern origins. This is the same for the Moroccan people. Our bloods, brothers are mixed up with each other. But above all this, we are Arabs and Muslims. I don’t want the states of Morocco and Algeria to use the power of young people estimated at 75% and involve them to kill each other while rulers of other countries sit on luxurious canapés and watch this war as if it is a football match… Armament is just intended to renovate old military equipment which is in stores since seventies and sixties. God knows better.

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    Anonymous 2008-12-1

    We support Maghreb unity because the Arab Maghreb has huge potential to achieve economic integration.

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  6. Anonymous_thumb

    سعد الاغواطي 2008-11-21

    It is very nice to hear that Algeria has concluded many deals to update its military equipment like most countries. This is considered logical for any wise person and not as those who want to cause strife say that it is directed to a specific sister country in which the name of God is voiced in its minarets. Concerning the concluded deals, I have some observations which were already stated by a brother in a previous comment. Such huge deals should be accompanied in their clauses with conditions of industrial partnership in the form of industrial licences for different types of weapons or specialisation in some of them which cost the state, like every time, huge funds. For example, it is noticed in the last deal dedicated to defence that it has concluded an agreement to buy batteries of the model A S 300 while as far as I know there are a most recent batteries A S 400. So we hope, in order to get out of this vicious circle as is the case every time by spending money one time on new equipment and another time on upgrading the old, to adopt the policy of manufacturing beginning with partnership and ultimately rely on ourselves.

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  7. Anonymous_thumb

    بلال 2008-7-12

    I am happy when I hear that my country Algeria is getting arms. Arms mean power, power means peace and peace means progress. I don’t see my brother that buying arms is a waste of money. Without power you wouldn’t have been dignified and respectable. Finally I say long live Algeria. long live the Algerian army…

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  8. Anonymous_thumb

    رفيق الجزائري 2008-6-11

    Good, Algeria is buying arms. Of course the war is coming. It is true that it isn’t with our Moroccan brothers, it is rather with the Jews. The fifth Arab War. Oh people, we are Muslims, what is wrong with you? It is good that Morocco is buying weapons to liberate its occupied territories. Oh my brothers, let’s be fair, the Polisario wants independence. Give them a referendum. If they want independence, may God help them. If they want to stay with brotherly Morocco, may God assist them. The most important thing is love, not the sword.

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  9. Anonymous_thumb

    منهل 2008-6-4

    Long live the Arab nation and the union of Arabs.

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  10. Anonymous_thumb

    محمد 2008-4-3

    History taught us and teaches us that power is in unity. The conflict between Morocco and Algeria won’t make them achieve anything and it is in reality, the conflict (war) only reflects the intellectual backwardness of the Arab rulers and people who choose violence to resolve their problems.

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    محمد الجزائري 2008-2-6

    Yes to the armament of the Algerian army. By God, I support the independence of the Western Sahara. Long live the generals, the military and the Polisario. My father is one of the Algerian generals. War is at the doors. Algeria will never be defeated. Long live the Algerian air force.

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    Anonymous 2007-12-18

    Salam, Morocco is a country neighbouring Algeria and a member of the Arab Maghreb States. Morocco has no animosity against Algeria. It's the interest of the Jewish and Christians in the tumult among Muslims and also in selling weapons and stockpiling them by Arabs until they are corroded.

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  13. Anonymous_thumb

    َAmir 2007-5-25

    It's good to provide the Algerian arsenal with high-tech weapons namely aircraft, but we have to organize our priorities, who will command these aircraft if all young people think of illegal immigration??

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    yazid 2007-3-29

    Buying sophisticated weapons is a good thing, but it is more important to buy licences to make weapons such as tanks, fighters and missiles. Algeria should get rid of this chronic dependence from abroad. This is the real strength and independence. Russians are our friends today but tomorrow, when the money is gone, we'll end up alone. We have to rely on ourselves, create our own forces and jobs, acquire this technology. Without it, we will betray our martyrs.

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  15. Anonymous_thumb

    ABDOU 2006-12-22

    only morrocans would object to this deal, and we all know why. We thank god because in the recent years we have been blessed, with NG and oil revenues. Not only are we paying our ebts before time, but also we are completing great projects to revive our economy!!!! long live algeria and the algerian army.

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  16. Anonymous_thumb

    sopbillal 2006-12-7

    you’re lying, you’re not Algerian. You’re mean playing a dirty role …… Long Live Algeria and the Algerian Army.

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  17. Anonymous_thumb

    زينو 2006-10-8

    Look! Whether Algeria buys or sells stuff, I must leave this hopeless situation. A country that still imports from China cannot be expected to do much. May the Lord guide them to the right path. The Algerian people know that everything in the society is fraudulent and deceiving! Why don't they support their poor with the money they spend on arms? People are living in dire circumstances and hardly make ends meat. You will be held accountable for what you are doing. Responsibility is not a game!

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