AMMAN, Jordan, May 31 (UPI) -- The Libyan government issued a request to have Russia lift the arms embargo placed on the country during civil war in 2011, a top executive said.
Russia was among countries that banned weapons contracts with the Libyan government of Moammar Gadhafi at the beginning of civil war in 2011. Chief Executive Officer at military company Russian Technologies Sergei Chemezov said an unidentified Libyan government official delivered to him a letter asking to resume frozen weapons contracts.
"They would like to buy something and will apparently send a delegation to discuss their request," he was quoted by state news agency RIA Novosti as saying from a grenade plant in Jordan. "They have already asked us, as far as possible, to revive contracts that were suspended."
Russia lost about $4 billion in military contracts with Libya because of the embargo.
Chemezov added that Russia started fulfilling a contract to send Iraq attack helicopters and short-range air defense systems.
"The contract is being implemented, the production (of ordered equipment) has started," he told RIA Novosti.
Iraq canceled a $4.2 billion contract with Russia in 2012 on allegations of corruption, though the terms of the deal were renegotiated in March.
Russia's weapons trade has come under scrutiny because of an ongoing relationship with the Syrian military.
