The United States on Wednesday said that Algeria had asked to purchase military equipment, but would not say whether the request would indeed be met.
"They've talked to us about a possible range of equipment and we'd have to address each of those on a case-by-case basis," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
He added that the request had been made Monday during a visit to Algiers by Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns.
"We do not provide Algeria with foreign military financing for the purchase of military equipment," said Boucher. "But we have for a number of years now provided Algeria with a program of international military education and training."
This, he added, included "English language training and officer education at US military schools."
Moreover, he said Algiers has purchased military equipment from US companies with government approval, but not combat material.
"In recent years, we've approved Algerian purchase of ground control radars for civil aviation, small aircraft for border security, spare parts for C-130 aircraft, radios and Humvee military vehicles," Boucher detailed.
In addition, he said Washington had authorized a US company to sell Algeria night vision devices for use by its security forces, but that these had not yet been delivered.
"I would point out," he expressed, "that no exports of lethal equipment have been approved" for Algeria.
Boucher added that the United States considered Algerian cooperation "excellent" in the fight against terrorism and that Burns, in the course of his visit, had reviewed expanding that cooperation. (Albawaba.com)
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