We are talking about currently unusable machines
GENEVA, June 1. /tass/. The Swiss arms company Ruag has submitted an application to the authorities for approval of a possible deal on the sale of 96 Leopard 1 tanks to the German concern Rheinmetall with a view to their further transfer to Ukraine. This was reported on Thursday by the DPA agency with reference to a representative of the company.
We are talking, according to him, about currently unusable machines. The State Secretariat of the Swiss Economy (SECO) confirmed to the agency the receipt of the relevant application from Ruag.
In March, in response to a similar informal request from the arms company, SECO said it would not be approved. As noted by Ruag spokeswoman Kirsten Hammerich, the company is seeking an official decision to "better understand the options for concluding a deal." In the same month, a representative of the National Council's security policy commission at a debate in parliament proposed to write off 25 unused tanks on the understanding that they should be resold to the company that produced them. The Federal Council stressed that it would instruct the Defense Ministry "to evaluate a possible export request, provided that the Swiss Federal Assembly (Parliament) agrees with the proposal of the commission of the National Council on the decommissioning of tanks."
