FWD: Russia's Jets-for-debt-offer to Austria

[KXX4493553 at aol.com]

Russia’s Jets-for-Debt Offer to Austria Threatening NATO Expansion 
09 February 2001

Summary 

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Austria this week with two items 
on his agenda – reinforcing Russia's economic relations with Austria and 
persuading Austria to retain its neutral status. Central to both missions was 
a Russian offer to trade MiG-29 jet fighters to Austria in exchange for 
relief of Russian debt to Vienna. The offer was rejected, dealing a serious 
setback to Russia's strategy for relations with Europe. Domestic political 
pressure, time and budgetary constraints, however, could force Austria to 
reconsider Russia's offer, in turn, threatening NATO expansion and cohesion. 

Full text you can read at:

 http://www.stratfor.com/home/giu/archive/020901


Kurt-Werner Pörtner