Foreign Ministry and Security Council of Belarus tight-lipped about arms deliveries to Sudan

• 21.07.2008, 14:49

The Foreign Ministry of Belarus and the State Secretariat of the Security Council do not comment on the reports about Belarus’ participation in Russian arms deliveries to Sudan.

On July 20 “Sudan tribune” newspaper, with a reference to its sources in Sudanese army, has informed that two weeks ago 12 fighters Mig-29 were secretly transported from Belarus to Sudan. “The source could not say exactly who was the seller, Belarusian government or some other Eastern European country,” the newspaper noted. According to the reports of its source, at the moment the fighters are situated at the military base of Sudanese Air Forces Vadi Sayedna.

The newspaper underlines that the UN Resolution 1591 prohibits deliveries of any armaments both to Sudanese government and rebels from Darfur province.

“Belarus is one of the suppliers of armaments to Sudan,” “Sudan Tribune” notes. “In June 2006 a protocol on military cooperation was signed between the two countries. Under the protocol training, experience exchange and innovations in the military sphere are made”.

The newspaper also reminded that in 2007 a human rights organisation “Amnesty International” charged Russia with arms deliveries to Sudan, however Russian Foreign Ministry repelled these charges.