Friday 15 International Friday, October 25, 2019 Guns, smiles: flaunts firepower at Africa summit Putin hosts dozens of African leaders

SOCHI: Russia is showing off its next genera- gate, letting him hold a Kalashnikov. “It’s so tion Kalashnikov assault rifles, helicopters and light,” exclaimed the man who identified himself facial recognition systems as President as a South African doctor with a “personal in- Vladimir Putin hosts dozens of African leaders terest” in weapons. Behind him, a for a major summit in Sochi. The Wednesday Rosoboronexport representative sang the and Thursday event at the Black Sea resort has praises of facial recognition systems which she brought together delegates to discuss every- said were “the most precise in the world” and thing from nuclear technology to mineral ex- could help secure borders, protect infrastruc- traction — but on the sidelines, stands for arms ture and fight illegal trafficking. companies dominate. Russia has been a major supplier of ‘Huge potential’ weapons and military equipment to African na- “Twenty (African) countries are currently tions and the country’s arms exporter hopes working with Russia,” said Rosoboronexport’s the first Russia-Africa summit will help further Mikheev, estimating the value of current arms boost business on the continent. “We would contracts with the continent at $12 billion. This like to expand our presence there, of course,” year alone, nine countries including Rwanda, Rosoboronexport director Alexander Mikheev Mozambique and Angola are set to receive told AFP. He said that African countries now Russian arms. SOCHI: A visitor examines a Russian made rocket-propelled grenade launcher RPG-29 during the Russia-Africa accounted for 40 percent of the exporter’s cur- Mikheev said that combat jets, gunships, Economic Forum Exhibition on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum in the Black rent orders. Buk systems and S-300 surface-to-air sea resort of Sochi yesterday. —AFP All 54 African states were represented at missile systems accounted for 80 percent of the event and Rosoboronexport said it planned Africa’s purchases. Russian Helicopters hold- to conduct meetings with the top leadership of ing company praised “huge potential for coop- the two-day gathering. Moscow has in recent spheres such as infrastructure projects and ge- 15 countries on the sidelines of the gathering. eration” as it showcased a modernized Mi-35 years struck a series of military agreements to ological exploration. “It’s very important to Russian and African attendees were offered an attack helicopter. “Over 900 helicopters made provide military expertise and train soldiers showcase Russia’s capabilities today,” he said. array of exhibits at which they could hold guns, by Russian Helicopters’ enterprises are regis- in Africa. On Wednesday, Central African “Not just in the military sphere.” Observers say pose for pictures or leaf through a catalogue tered in African countries,” the company said leader Faustin-Archange Touadera asked Moscow has been skillfully using a combina- of infantry weapons translated into French and in a statement. “This is almost one in four heli- Putin to extend military aid, while Namibian tion of arms exports and security expertise to Portuguese. “We adapt to the needs of our copters on the continent.” President Hage Geingob told the Kremlin expand its political and economic footprint in clients”,” said an official at one of the stands. On the sidelines of the summit, chief his country was interested in Moscow’s Africa. “Guns have opened many more doors “South Africa uses older models, if you want agreed to buy a but military expertise. for the Kremlin in Africa than butter,” said Paul to keep the same ammunition they will be com- Rosoboronexport said no major arms sales Mikheev said defense deals also lead to Stronski, a senior fellow at the Carnegie En- patible with these new arms,” he told one dele- were expected to be announced at the end of more business opportunities in non-military dowment for International Peace. —AFP

side Paris and in Munich, where he has doubled turnover to more Macron unveils new than 12 billion euros ($13.4 billion) and staff numbers to 122,000. But Atos is an IT service provider to the EU and Breton’s nomina- pick for key EU post tion has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. Three dead after ‘Complicated’ PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron yesterday put forward busi- The vetting process “will be complicated, once again,” said nessman and former economy minister Thierry Breton as France’s Yannick Jadot, a European parliamentarian from France’s EELV fierce flooding in candidate for a key European Commission portfolio, after his first green party. “Thierry Breton is the CEO of Atos, it is a digital com- choice was shot down by the European Parliament. Macron pro- pany that receives European grants, that is a European leader in posed Breton to incoming commission head Ursula von der Leyen supercomputers, also with European grants. And in his portfolio, southern France for the ambitious portfolio covering industrial policy, defense what do we have? Digital.” spending, technology and space, an Elysee Palace official said. PARIS: Three people have died after several days of heavy Another MEP, Manon Aubry of the hard-left France Unbowed storms that sent rivers flooding over their banks across south- The portfolio, which Macron fought hard for, has remained un- party, criticized the candidature of a boss of a listed company “that changed. Macron and Von der Leyen had agreed on Breton’s ern France, causing “significant damage,” the interior minister receives millions of European grants”. But the Elysee insisted Bre- said yesterday. Rescue workers have carried out nearly 1,800 “profile,” the official said, adding: “If we are proposing this can- ton was always “rigorous to avoid any conflict of interest” when didate, he is suitable.” Two weeks ago, European Parliament law- operations since Sunday, Christophe Castaner said in a state- he moved to government from the business sector. Macron’s nom- ment, after eight departments were placed on high alert for makers voted to reject Macron’s first candidate for the Brussels inee will be vetted by European lawmakers in the coming weeks. post, Sylvie Goulard, in a rare political defeat for the French leader flash floods. on the European stage. He did not provide details on when or how the deaths oc- ‘Committed European’ curred, but an interior ministry official said they were in the A former MEP, Goulard resigned in June 2017 from a short stint The Elysee official said Breton “has solid skills in all the areas as France’s defence minister after claims she and other members Herault, Gard and Pyrenees-Orientales departments. Around covered by the portfolio, particularly industry and high tech”, 700 homes remain without power in Herault and Gard, and of the centrist MoDem party were using European parliamentary adding that he is a “committed European” and “a man of action”. funds to pay assistants who were actually based in France. She the flooding could halt train services across much of the area Breton said yesterday that he was “working on preparing for the until at least November 4, the SNCF train operator said. was questioned by French investigators in September and is also hearings”, adding he was “very honored” by the trust placed in him. under scrutiny by the EU Anti-Fraud Office, though she has not “This toll could have been higher,” Transport Minister Elis- “For Europe and for all our fellow European citizens, I appre- abeth Borne said while inspecting the damage in Beziers, a been charged. Breton, 64, is credited with a turnaround for the ciate the importance of the challenges associated with this port- debt-laden former state monopoly France Telecom, now Orange, city hit particularly hard. Flooding also killed a man in north- folio for the future of our country.” The vetting of the EU’s 28 eastern Spain this week, and five people were missing, offi- and leading it to privatization. commissioners, one for each member country, has taken longer He has served as a director on many boards and led French cials said Wednesday. Flooding and landslides forced the than expected, and the EU executive is now expected to start its closure of nearly 50 roads and halted train services in the re- computer-maker Bull as well as Thomson Multimedia before serv- work on December 1, a month later than initially planned. MEPs ing as economy minister under Jacques Chirac from 2005 to 2007. gion, as well as forcing the diversion of 37 flights, Spanish au- also rejected the candidates from Hungary and Romania last thorities said. —AFP He now heads digital firm Atos, a group with head offices both out- month. —AFP