MOSCOW, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - Syria has made a proposal to Russia on setting up a center in the Middle Eastern country to service Russian-made aircraft, Syria's transportation minister said Friday.
Yarub Sulayman Badr, who is currently on a visit in Russia to negotiate the deliveries of seven Russian airliners to Syria, said the center could not only service Syria but other purchasers of Russian planes in the region as well.
"We made the proposal in advance and we are glad to meet with understanding from the Russian side," the minister said.
Russian leasing company Ilyushin Finance, the Voronezh Aircraft Construction Company [VASO] and Syrian Arab Airlines agreed Thursday on deliveries of six Russian aircraft to Syria.
Today Syria operates Russian-made Il-76, Tu-134, Tu-154, Yak-40 and Yak-42 airliners and has expressed an interest in purchasing three Il-96 and four Tu-204 aircraft.
