Syria says MiG-31 deal with Russia still on

Syria denied on Sunday a Russian media report that Moscow no longer wants to sell it eight advanced MiG-31 planes because of pressure from Israel. "This is part of attempts to undermine the friendly relations and cooperation between Syria and Russia," an official Syrian statement said. The statement was issued as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the Syrian capital and met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Kommersant newspaper quoted an unidentified person close to Russia's state arms exporter as saying that the $500-million deal, agreed to in 2007, was halted after Israel protested. The paper quoted another source in an unidentified Russian ministry as saying the contract had been halted because Syria could not come up with the money to pay for the fighters. Syria, which has adhered to a ceasefire with Israel on the Golan Heights since 1974, has been trying to upgrade its military in the last several years.

(Editing by Jon Hemming)

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