From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Fri Sep 11 2009 - 07:57:36 EDT
Israel eyes arms deals through Lieberman's Africa trip: report
www.chinaview.cn 2009-09-11 16:58:53 Print
JERUSALEM, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman dabbled in talks on arms deals during his trip to Africa, with
Israeli arms dealers and weapons manufacturers accompanied, Israeli
newspaper reported Friday.
The Foreign Minister returned to Israel Friday from his nine-day visit
to Africa, which took him to Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda.
Delegations from Israeli defense industry, besides other business people
and foreign ministry officials, were among Lieberman's entourage, including
executives from Soltam, Israel Military Industries, Israel Aerospace
Industries, Silver Shadow advanced security systems Ltd., Israel Shipyards
and Elbit Systems, Ha'aretz reported.
Arms manufacturers' lobby and the Defense Ministry have great influence
on Israel's foreign policy in recent decades, Israeli sources told the
daily.
No arms deals were signed during the trip, but Israeli foreign ministry
officials estimate Africa's business potential at some 1 billion U.S.
dollars, said the report, adding that some countries like Nigeria are
important markets for Israeli weapons.
The Israeli Foreign Minister, talking about various issues with his
African counterparts, highlighted the economic and commercial cooperation
between Israel and the African countries during his visit.
He appears to believe that it is increasingly important to engage
nations in other parts of the world, in addition to the U.S. and Europe.
"For many years Israel has been absent from entire regions," Lieberman
said on the eve of his departure for Africa.
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