Source : Voice of Russia
France has backed Moscow’s proposal to send two Il-38 reconnaissance planes to Djibouti as part international anti- piracy efforts, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Thursday.
He discussed the issue with his French counterpart on Wednesday.
Russian ships joined the international anti-piracy mission off Somalia in 2008. Over the past years, they have escorted more than 700 convoys without a single loss.
Russia may provide Mali army with weapons – Russia’s Defense Ministry
Russia might help the Mali army in its efforts to oust Islamists militants from the north of the country through weapons provision, Russia Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told reporters on Thursday.
On Wednesday Russian foreign and defense ministers met with their French counterparts in Paris where they discussed security issues.
“There does not exist such issue as Russia’s direct support for Mali military operation,” Serdyukov said later on Thursday.
At the same time he noted that Rosoboronexport is considering Mali’s request for weapons purchase .
