Polish Defense Minister visits Russia and seeks better deal on arms supplies

Deputy Defense Minister Janusz Zemke is paying the first official visit to Russia from a representative of the Polish Defense Ministry for six years. Zemke, who is responsible for purchases for the armed forces, is talking with the Russians about commercial relations between the two countries and eventual supplies for the Polish army. The meeting was initiated by the Polish side, but the Russians also said they had a lot of serious, and maybe sensational propositions for Poland. Zemke said that in Moscow he would try to negotiate better terms to purchase spare parts for the Russian equipment that forms almost 80% of the military equipment that are used by the Polish armed forces. This visit will mark a prelude before the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergiej Ivanov to Poland that will take place in the third week of September. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) A.D.