Yeltsin offers to aid RP military

Yeltsin offers to aid RP military

MANILA (AFP): President Boris Yeltsin offered Russia's assistance to the Philippines' military modernization program in a letter delivered to Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday, the presidential palace here said.

Yeltsin's aide on military and technical cooperation, Boris Kuzyk delivered the letter to Ramos in a courtesy call, a presidential palace press statement said.

The palace said Yeltsin's letter told Ramos that military and technical cooperation between the two countries could be "very promising and mutually beneficial."

Yeltsin touted the quality of Russian weaponry, saying "I think it could also prove itself in your army, significantly increasing its fighting capabilities."

The Russian-made Mig-29 jet is among several contenders for the Philippines' requirement for a squadron of multirole fighter aircraft.