MOSCOW, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- An executive with Russia's state arms company, Rosoboronexport, said Friday the company is preparing for talks with Egypt about a weapons sale.
The official told RIA Novosti the Russian government may lend Egypt the money needed to pay for the weapons. Media reports in Russia have suggested Egypt could spend as much as $4 billion to obtain advanced weapons systems.
The United States announced recently it was suspending some of its military aid to Egypt because of the crackdown on the opposition by the interim military government.
"We are ready to negotiate with the Egyptian side the possibility of deliveries of new weaponry as well as repairing equipment supplied in Soviet times," the Rosoboronexport executive said.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are scheduled to visit Egypt for two days next week, the Foreign Ministry announced Friday. Russian military aid is expected to be a major topic of discussion with the Egyptian government.
The Soviet Union supplied Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser with military equipment. But after Nasser's death, his successor, Anwar Sadat, turned towards the United States and western Europe, a move that culminated in the Camp David Accords that brought peace with Israel.
After Camp David, Egypt became one of the largest recipients of U.S. military aid.
