Vice-premier D.Rogozin: Implementation of the state armament programme will enable Russia to re-enter the list of leading industrial countries

Implementation of the state armament programme by 2020 will enable Russia to re-enter the list of leading industrial countries,” “ITAR-TASS” quotes Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.<br />

Implementation of the state armament programme by 2020 will enable Russia to re-enter the list of leading industrial countries,” “ITAR-TASS” quotes Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

“By 2020, when the armament programme is completed, we will be living in a totally different country,” promised Dmitry Rogozin, speaking at the event organized by the Art Museum near Moscow and dedicated to the Defender of the Motherland Day. “In the country which certainly won’t be hooked on the oil-and-gas needle, in the country which will have new modern plants, in the country where engineering occupation will be a cult, we will reverse the situation. It will be an industrial power,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

When speaking about military-technical cooperation between Russia and Ukraine, D.Rogozin noted that it is the uncertainty of the country’s policy that hinders the cooperation.

Having pointed out that in the sphere of military-technical cooperation the two countries’ relations “are getting better”, D.Rogozin stated that “the reason behind our anxiety with regard to Ukraine is its political instability”. “We just cannot understand whether they do want to be in NATO or they don’t, whether they want to be a part of the EU or they don’t. It is important for us to know,” he explained.

“I said to Azarov / the Prime Minister of Ukraine - ref. ITAR-TASS / – you should decide, and then we will be able to develop stable productive relations. But if now we merge with a company which tomorrow will be a NATO one – my dear colleagues, you must understand that this is not a sensible approach,” said D.Rogozin. Such situation “creates obstacles for us in terms of long-term production planning. That is why, we will set up joint ventures with our Ukrainian colleagues within the framework of the joint production of a specific product,” he specified.

The Deputy Prime Minister exemplified organization of joint ventures to build An-140 and An-148 aircraft. “We are working on the An-124 “Ruslan” – at present a joint venture is being considered,” said D.Rogozin.

The case is somewhat different and definitely better if to speak about cooperation with Belarus. “Belarus is a member of the Union State,” said D.Rogozin. “The products and services produced by defense enterprises of the Republic of Belarus are regarded by the Russian Federation as goods and services produced by Russian companies. That is, Belarusian companies have direct access / Russia / to state contractors related to implementation of armament programmes,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.