Irina Malenko: Leader of arm sale to developing countries criticizes Byelorussia for its arm export

In general, arm was sold in sum of almost 36.9 trillion dollars last year, while almost a half of this sum belongs to the United States ($ 18.6 trillion). Russia’s part makes one fifth ($ 7.7 trillion). France sold “traditional arm” to the Third World countries on 4.1 trillion, Germany – on 1.1 trillion, Great Britain – on 600 million, China – on 400 million, Italy – on 100 million. The report’s author Richard Grimmet said that spite the Cold War’s ending, “developing countries still are the main focus of foreign arm sale by its traditional producers.” In the report, the question was only about arm sale to developing countries, though according to latest data of International Institute of Strategic Research, the total arm export grew in 1999 to 58 trillion dollars, while almost 50 percent of these sales falls on the US, 20 percent – on Great Britain, 12.4 percent – on France.

Irina Malenko PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Vera Solovieva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/01/16/35632.html