MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) - Russia has supplied firearms to the Malian government forces, and the two countries are discussing shipments of aircraft, says Alexander Fomin, the director of the Federal Service for Military-Technological Cooperation.
"Russia has supported the UN Security Council decision on sending ECOWAS forces to that country. We also provided assistance in reply to the Malian government's request. We shipped two batches of weapons very quickly in December and February. This chiefly included firearms," Fomin said on Echo of Moscow radio on Friday.
"We are also considering other types of weapons, particularly aircraft. This is the second request that is under consideration now. If the parties reach an agreement, such shipments will take place," he said.
"These were supplies for money," Fomin said. "This country has money. Possibly this is international aid. Mali has been our good partner since the Soviet Union times. We trained thousands of people. Over 50% of the commanding staff there are graduates of Soviet and Russian colleges, and 80% of hardware possessed by the Malian armed forces is Soviet-made," he said.