Putin suggests Russia will sell missiles to Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Friday that a planned sale of missiles to Syria will go on as planned, despite objections by Israel and the United States.
Putin, in an interview with Israel's Channel Ten television, said that the sale of SA-18 surface-to-air missiles would not in any way change the balance of powers in the Middle East. "We understand the importance of the balance and are committed to keeping it, but the weapons at stake will not change this balance," Putin said.
Responding to Israeli fears, Putin asserted that the missiles will not find their way to terrorists.
"We have the ability to know exactly where these missiles are located," Putin said, and added that the missiles are mounted on vehicles, and cannot operate if they are detached from them.
Russian officials denied earlier this month that Moscow was discussing missile sales to Syria, but Israeli leaders had feared the contract would be signed during a visit by Syrian President Bashar Assad to Moscow earlier this week.
A senior Israeli official said at the start of the week that American pressure had prompted Russia to reconsider plans to sell the missiles to Syria, and that Putin promised Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last week to resume discussions between Israel and Russia about the missile deal after Assad's visit.