| Online: | |
| Visits: | |
| Stories: |
| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Lebanon, France finalize $3 billion arms deal (does not include
Lebanon, France finalize $3 billion arms deal: report
Saudi military grant will help bolster Lebanon’s military capabilities
Michel Abu Najm Asharq Al-Awsat Thursday, 27 Feb, 2014
http://www.aawsat.net/2014/02/article55329473
Paris, Asharq Al-Awsat=97Beirut and Paris have finalized a major arms deal,=
to =
be funded by a Saudi grant worth 3 billion US dollars, to bolster Lebanon=
=92s =
military capabilities, local media in Lebanon reported on Thursday.
The deal, which will provide Lebanon with advanced weaponry, is expected to =
be officially announced during a March 5 international donors=92 conference=
in =
Paris, according to Lebanon=92s An-Nahar newspaper. The inaugural meeting o=
f =
the donors=92 conference, known as the Lebanon International Support Group, =
was held in September 2013.
A French official told Asharq Al-Awsat: =93Paris is ready to meet the =
requirements of the Lebanese army,=94 and that it is waiting for the Lebane=
se =
authorities to inform them of its military procurement requirements.
=93French is not imposing any limits or technological restrictions on the =
types of arms wanted by Lebanon,=94 the official added.
The French source revealed that Lebanon=92s military requirements fall into =
three main categories: mobility, firepower, and replacing outmoded =
equipment. These requirements will see Lebanon=92s armed forces being provi=
ded =
with helicopters, armored vehicles and long-range missiles. The source =
confirmed that this will include High Subsonic Optical Remote-Guided =
Tube-Launched (HOT) missiles and a second-generation long-range anti-tank =
missile system, but not a comprehensive modern air defense system.
In December last year, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman announced that =
Riyadh had provided a major 3 billion US dollar grant to the country to =
purchase weapons from France. During a televised address, Suleiman announce=
d =
that he had managed to secure =93extraordinary support=94 for the Lebanese =
military from Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
=93This support will contribute to confronting terrorism and helping UNIFIL =
[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] implement [UN Security Council] =
Resolution 1701,=94 Suleiman said.
The Lebanese president described the Saudi grant as =93the biggest support =
in =
Lebanon=92s history,=94 adding that it will allow the Lebanese army to meet=
its =
national and regional responsibilities.
=93The initiative is an honest reflection of Saudi Arabia=92s efforts to =
preserve Lebanon,=94 Suleiman said. =
________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on A=
rab-Israeli relations
Website: www.imra.org.il
For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: [email protected]
Unsubscribe: [email protected]
For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: [email protected]
Unsubscribe: [email protected]
IMRA is now also on Twitter
http://twitter.com/IMRA_UPDATES
Source: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=63323
