Syrian defense minister to visit Moscow to strengthen military cooperation

Spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Syrian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass will visit Moscow at the beginning of February to discuss with his Russian counterpart, Marshal Igor Sergeyev, issues relating to military cooperation.

The spokesman did not admit or deny reports published by Russian dailies that the two ministers will sign "a program on military cooperation at a cost of US $1 billion over a five-year period."

The reports stated that Syria is interested in buying Sukhoi SU-27 warplanes, anti-missile S-300 missiles and T-80 tanks.

Sergeyev visited Damascus in November 1998, and he then decided with his Syrian counterpart on "strengthening relations between the armies of the two friendly countries."