Russia denies US claims for sanctions against arms export companies

Moscow, Jan 7 (UNI) Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov has denied claims by the United States for the imposition of sanctions against Russian weapons export companies on grounds of violation of international laws.

''As I head the Export Control Commission, I state with all responsibility that all the three Russian companies did not break any international norms, rules and obligations undertaken by the Russian Federation on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile technology," Ivanov told RIA Novosti news agnency during a visit to a Strategic Missile Forces garrison in Vlasikha, Moscow region.

Washington announced the imposition of sanctions against a number of Russian legal entities and individuals, including state weapons export agency Rosoboronexport, the Tula Instrument Manufacturing Design Bureau (KBP) and the Kolomna Machinery Design Bureau (KBM), on January 5.

Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday sharply flayed the imposition of sanctions by the United States against Russian legal entities and individuals saying it was illegal, stressing the fact that Russian companies always acted in line with Russia's obligations in the area of export control.

''Russian companies have regularly been accused of alleged assistance to missile and WMD programmes or alleged deliveries banned by the international export control regime to Syria and Iran on the basis of the US, Iran and Syria Non-proliferation Act,'' a Foreign Ministry statement said.

It also accused the US of trying to extend its domestic laws to foreign companies, to make them work under the US rules.

The statement pointed out that the US has made bids in the past also to impose sanctions on Russian arms export companies.

''The last attempt was made in August 2006, when sanctions were imposed on Rosoboronexport and the Sukhoi company. Then the US did not ignore our arguments proving the absence of the reasoning behind the sanctions even in line with American laws and later lifted sanctions from the Sukhoi company,'' it said adding the US again took this vicious track.

''As a result of politicized actions, the US deprives itself and its companies of cooperation with Russia's most advanced companies.

This is called the loss of opportunities in business,'' the Ministry said.

UNI