MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia plans to broaden the geography of its arms exports, First Vice Chairman of the Committee for International Military-Technical Cooperation Alexander Denisov said at a press conference at the Interfax head office on Monday.
He said Russia currently exports weapons to more than 60 countries.
Russia plans to broaden cooperation not only with its traditional partners, but also with other countries, including those in Africa, Denisov said. "Seventy percent of the military hardware and weapons located in Africa are Russian-made," he said, adding that Africa is a vast field for broadening cooperation.
He announced that an agreement was signed with Congo this year, but did not elaborate.
He said that in Africa, Russia will mostly upgrade military hardware that is already available. "But exports from the Defense Ministry's reserve are also possible," Denisov said. He said cooperation with Southeastern Asian countries is also developing rapidly.
Regarding attacks on Russia for its cooperation with so- called rogue states, including Libya, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, Denisov said that "the rogue countries - a term announced by the United States - are not entirely such for us." "We are being guided primarily by appropriate UN resolutions," Denisov said.
He said that in the autumn, Russia was visited by the Iranian defense minister, who held talks to that effect. The Commission is also dealing with Libya, Denisov said.
When asked whether Russia may increase arms exports following the withdrawal of the United States from the ABM Treaty, Denisov said "this refers more to military cooperation, which is within the competence of the Defense Ministry."
As for the possibility of broadening cooperation with China after the U.S. withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, Denisov said that "Russian-Chinese cooperation is already developing steadily and successfully enough."