— CYPRUS:

Defense Minister Igor Sergeev said (not for the first time) that Moscow is ready to deliver the S-300 missile-defense system to Cyprus. Consummation of the missile deal, signed in January, has been postponed several times. Turkey has threatened military action to prevent the delivery. The Cyprus deal could open the way for S-300 sales to Greece. Sergeev claims the S-300 is superior to the U.S. Patriot missile-defense system, which it resembles, and could easily be made compatible with other NATO weapons systems.