, Bangkok, Oct 20-Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking advantage of the first-ever state visit by a Russian leader to promote his country's military hardware to Thailand, an official said today.
Thai Defence Minister General Thammarak Issarakura said he would sign a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of Russian weapons with Russia's deputy defence minister, who is accompanying Putin to Thailand, on Wednesday.
He said an agreement for maintainance of the Russian equipment was also expected to be signed.
''This means we will start negotiating for the purchase of weapons from Russia,'' Thammarak told Thai reporters on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit which opened in Bangkok today.
Putin arrived in Thailand last Friday, spending his first two days in the country vacationing on the southern resort island of Phuket.
He attended today's retreat of APEC heads of government, hosted by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but his official state visit does not begin until tomorrow, when the summit closes.
Thammarak said the Russian delegation accompanying Putin was pushing to establish a foothold for their country's defence industry in the region. Malaysia is the only country in the area currently considered a major Russian weapons customer, buying 29 Russian-built MiG fighter jets for its air force.
''Russia has been trying to open markets in this region for a long time,'' Thammarak said. ''Thai troops have never used Russian equipment. But the army wants to buy Russian missiles because they are easy to use.'' He suggested that Russia might be able to provide weapons systems to Thailand to pay for large amounts of Thai rice purchased in recent years.
The United States has been Thailand's main source of weapons for the past 50 years, but the government has moved recently to diversify its sources of arms, particularly from China.
Putin yesterday said he hoped to help create a more ''balanced world'' to counter the current dominant role played by the United States.
''The world has become less predictable,'' he said. ''We must create a balanced world. And most important to strengthen international law and the organisation of the United Nations.''
