Up in arms -- with Libya

From Poland A.M.:

Record number of arms exporters expect 2005 to be a bumper year

Polish arms producers are going to export supplies worth more than USD 1 billion this year. Last year, as many as 188 companies were entitled to sell armaments to other countries, as compared with just 13 firms in 2001. Among others, Libya was recently taken off the list of embargoed countries. "The opening of new possibilities has already caused an increase in the exporters' activity. However, each contract must first be accepted by the government," said Jacek Śliwowski, the director of the Export Control Department in the Economy and Labor Ministry. All indicators are that Polish companies will be able to at least partly regain the markets on which they used to be active in the past. The offer for Libya encompasses the supply of military equipment as well as modernizing services and training soldiers.

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