PRAGUE DENIES ARMS FOR DEBT DEAL WITH RUSSIA.

The Czech Finance Ministry on May 7 denied a report by the Russian newspaper Kommersant-daily alleging that Prague had agreed to accept $100 million worth of military hardware as partial repayment for Russia’s debt to the Czech Republic. According to the ministry, Russia in fact is to repay Prague with TU-154M civilian aircraft worth $22 million, as well as with mineral fertilizers and several other non-military commodities. (CTK news agency, May 7)

Russia to Bid for Hungarian Fighter Contract.