MOSCOW, April 20, (RIA Novosti) - A source in Russia's Defense Ministry has confirmed to RIA Novosti that talks are under way to supply two helicopters and 50 armored cars to Palestine.
"These are transport vehicles, and there must be no complications with the contract," the agency's source believes.
"The negotiations have been under way for about two years, but as yet there is no agreement on the price and delivery dates," the source noted.
In his opinion, reports about helicopters and armored reconnaissance vehicles appeared after talks "made some headway".
The competent British Jane's Defence Weekly reported that Russia is planning to supply two Mi-17 transport helicopters and 50 BRDM-2 combat reconnaissance and patrol vehicles to the Palestinian National Authority.
The Russian side came forward with the appropriate proposal to the Palestinians after the visit at the end of January to Moscow by Mahmoud Abbas, PNA chairman, writes the publication referring to a Palestinian source.
The helicopters are expected to be used to carry Abbas and other top officials of the Palestinian administration between the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jordan, indicates the weekly.
The Palestinians, as the publication's web site says, asked Russia to provide pilots and maintenance staff to serve the helicopters.
The late PNA leader, Yasser Arafat, used similar helicopters of Russian manufacture before they were destroyed by Israeli troops in hostilities on Palestinian territories.
Armored cars from the arsenals of the Russian army are planned to be handed over to Palestinian security forces, which requires consent of the Israeli side, writes Jane's Defence Weekly.
Rosoboronexport did not comment on the weekly's report.
