Spain to sell to Saudi Arabia

Spain to supply Saudi Arabia with arms
United Press International, July 10, 2002

Spain is to sell Saudi Arabia $1.5 billion worth of arms, the
Spanish press
reported Sunday.

Spains El Pais said Spanish Defense Minister Federico Trilio was
expected to
finalize the deal after he met his Saudi counterpart, Prince Sultan bin
Abdul
Aziz, later Sunday and with Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on
Monday.

The paper said the two sides were expected to sign the “huge arms
deal” that
included modernizing the Saudi tanks and military transport aircraft.

El Pais said the arms deal would modernize 140 tanks in the next 10
years.
The Saudis would also purchase another 148 tanks at a cost of $800
million.

Additional equipment included mortars and 18 new S-295 military
transport
aircraft worth $700 million, the paper added.

Saudi Arabia is regarded as one of the most important clients for
Spains
military industry. |end|