MOSCOW. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Russian state arms trader Rosoboronexport's contracts fulfilled over the past ten years are worth $60 billion, and its current order portfolio is estimated at $30 billion, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
"Rosoboronexport has exported $60 billion in arms over the past ten years, with arms exports growing at a pace of $500 million - $700 million per year. Since 2000, Russian arms exports have increased almost 2.5 times," Putin said at a meeting with officials from Rosoboronexport, Rostekhnologii state holding company and the Defense Ministry and Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service on the occasion of Rosoboronexport's tenth anniversary.
"Rosoboronexport's order portfolio is estimated at over $30 billion - a figure backed by concrete contracts and agreements," Putin said.
He also said that the geography of arms deliveries has expanded considerably. "Arms are exported to 85 countries. Rosoboronexport and Russia's arms exports strictly comply with Russian and international laws and with the current nonproliferation regime," he said.
"We take all potential risks into account for the security of the regions, where we export weapons, and we pay careful attention to the alignment of forces and never take steps that could upset this balance. It is a position of principle, which did and will guide us along," Putin said.