NEW DELHI (PTI): The Slovak Republic last week proposed joint collaboration with India in manufacturing battle tanks for exports to third countries as part of efforts to expand bilateral defence cooperation
The proposal was made by Slovak defence minister Pavol Kanis ala news conference addressed by the visiting Slovak premier Jozef Moraveik here.
Moraveik who ended his two day official visit last week Said there were excellent prospects for sale of Slovak military hardware to India.
These prospects will depend upon the interest shown by India If India\so. There can be arms wale he said. Slovak Republic which was part of the erstwhile Czechoslovakia is reportedly keen on selling the T72 tanks and the latest 155 mm Howitzer guns. Minister of state for defence Mallikarjun had visited the Slovak Republic last month and went around various armament factories
Moraveik said Indian experts are examining the Slovak offers of military technology and that an agreement could be signed if Indian government takes a decision to purchase arms. He said no defence deals have so far been signed between the two countries At a meeting with prime minister P_V_ Narasimha Rao Moraveik said his country had a strong base for production of defence equipment
Article extracted from this publication >> July 15, 1994
