MOSCOW, August 24 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation will continue its efforts to attract Latin American arms dealers and support Russian arms exports at various exhibitions, an agency official said Wednesday.
"Russia is interested in exploring the Latin American arms market," Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the agency said, commenting on Russia's participation in the Exponaval 2005 International Maritime Defense Exhibition scheduled for August 24-27 in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. "At present, there is an urgent need to modernize outdated military equipment in several countries in the region, and Russian exporters have to actively explore this market."
He said the agency formed a delegation, headed by a Rosoboronexport (Russia's only state exporter of armaments) official, to participate in Exponaval 2005. The delegation comprises representatives from the Izmash concern and the Kazan and Rosvertol helicopter-manufacturing plants.
Russia will exhibit armaments selected according to a marketing research of the regional market, including naval weaponry and military equipment for the army and air force, the official added.
According to Dmitriyev, Russia's participation in the exhibition in Caracas is part of the effort to explore the Latin American arms market. Russian arms exporters also plan to attend an upcoming arms exhibition in Buenos Aires.
