Negotiations on Czech L-159 plane sale to Iraq continue

Prague, Jan 23 (CTK) - Negotiations about the sale of Czech redundant subsonic planes L-159 to Iraq continue, no decision was made yesterday, the Government Office told CTK after Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas's meeting with an Iraqi government delegation.

Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra told journalists that his Iraqi counterpart Saadoun Dulaimi has assured him that Baghdad continues to be interested in the aircraft.

Dulaimi confirmed Vondra's words at a joint briefing.

He and Vondra said Iraq is interested not only in the already produced but mothballed planes but also new planes by the same producer, Aero Vodochody.

It ensues from previous information that the sale of about 20 planes has been discussed.

"Iraq is logically interested in new planes," Vondra said.

He said the Czech Republic supports Iraq's interest in the new aircraft as it may guarantee long-term bilateral cooperation.

At the same time, Prague can provide Iraq with unused planes from its military reserves, which can be prepared more quickly than the new planes can be produced, Vondra said.

Dulaimi and Vondra said Iraq wants the planes to be supplied quickly and their preparation for operation to be the fastest possible.

"I'm sure that yesterday's [talks] will bring us another step closer to the finish," Vondra said.

The Czech Republic and Iraq have discussed the deal for a long time now. During Necas's visit to the Middle East last year, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki said the two countries may complete the deal on military planes soon.

Aero Vodochody has been negotiating about the deal in Iraq for some time. The L-159's rivals are British Hawk and a supersonic plane offered by Korea in cooperation with the U.S. producer Lockheed Martin.

Maliki was to head the Iraqi delegation on its ongoing visit to Prague, he was forced to stay in Iraq over his duties at home.

The Czech Republic and Iraq have also been negotiating about a Czech modernisation of Iraq's T-72 tanks and Mi-17 helicopters, the Czech Government Office recalled.

Dulaimi mentioned the possibility of cooperation in training soldiers. The Czech Republic has much to offer in this respect, he said yesterday.

Dulaimi also spoke about a possible restart of light weapons production by Iraq, which he said could help the Czech economy.

Necas said Czech companies have taken part in tenders for the reconstruction of the present or construction of new oil mining facilities and water management infrastructure.