International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/05/...ael-Georgia.phpIsrael freezes defense sales to GeorgiaThe Associated Press
Published: August 5, 2008
JERUSALEM: Israel has decided to halt all sales of military equipment to Georgia because of objections from Russia, which is locked in a feud with its smaller Caucasus neighbor, Israeli defense officials said Tuesday.
The officials said the freeze was partially intended to give Israel leverage with Moscow in its attempts to persuade Russia not to ship arms and equipment to Iran. They spoke on condition of anonymity as Israel does not officially publish details of its arms sales.
Russia has repeatedly refused to comment on reports its is selling S-300 air defense missiles to Iran.
Among items Israel has been selling to Tbilisi are pilotless drone aircraft. Russian fighters shot one down in May, according to U.N. observers.
Russia sent Israel a letter of protest after the shooting incident asking it to stop supplying military hardware to Georgia "as Russia from time to time complies with Israel's requests not to supply weapons systems" to states seen as threatening Israel, according to a report Tuesday in the Israeli daily Maariv.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment Tuesday on the reported arms trade freeze.
Georgian Cabinet minister Temur Yakobashvili denied the report.
"There has been no decision by Israel to stop selling weapons. The gossip about that in the Israeli media is linked to the internal political process in Israel," Yakobashvili said.
Israel is one of the world's leading arms exporters but does not detail the contents or value of its trade with individual countries.
In addition to the spy drones, Israel has also been supplying Georgia with infantry weapons and electronics for artillery systems, and has helped upgrade Soviet-designed Su-25 ground attack jets assembled in Georgia, according to Koba Liklikadze, an independent military expert based in Tbilisi. Former Israeli generals also serve as advisers to the Georgian military.
Tensions between Israel and Iran are high, with Israeli officials warning of a possible military strike against what it says is a nuclear weapons program under development by Tehran. The sale by Russia of anti-aircraft weapons could help Iran fend off an attack.
Iran denies it has nuclear arms ambitions, saying its program is for peaceful purposes.
The disagreement between Russia and Georgia centers on two breakaway Georgian provinces which have close ties with Russia.
_____
Associated Press Writer Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili contributed to this report from Tbilisi, Georgia.
Israel freezes defense sales to Georgia
