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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020916/ap_wo_en_po/poland_germany_tanks_2 Germany hands over surplus tanks to help Poland upgrade military to NATO standards Agence France-Presse Mon Sep 16, 7:11 AM ET Poland joined the Western military alliance in 1999 along with two other former Warsaw Pact states, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Warsaw has had trouble finding money to bring its forces up to NATO standards, however, because of government budget deficits and an economic slowdown. The tanks are valued at some 1.5 billion zlotys (dlrs 370 million). Poland is to pay 90 million zlotys (dlrs 22 million) to train crews and maintain the tanks. SWIETOSZOW, Poland - German officials on Monday handed over to Poland the first of 128 surplus Leopard tanks, part of a deal that will help Warsaw modernize its military to meet NATO requirements. Polish tank crews received the 15 tanks from their German counterparts in a ceremony at the Swietoszow military base, some 450 kilometers (280 miles) southwest of Warsaw. Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, German Defense Minister Peter Struck and his Polish counterpart Jerzy Szmajdzinski oversaw the handover. "We feel like we are changing from a little Fiat 126 to a high-class car," said Col. Krzysztof Kacperek, deputy commander of the 1st Tank Company of Poland's 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade. "These tanks are very comfortable, very crew-friendly." Until now, the brigade has used Polish-made Twardy tanks. Germany and Poland last January sealed the deal under which Berlin will hand over 128 surplus Leopard tanks and 23 Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets. Poland joined the Western military alliance in 1999 along with two other former Warsaw Pact states, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Warsaw has had trouble finding money to bring its forces up to NATO standards, however, because of government budget deficits and an economic slowdown. The tanks are valued at some 1.5 billion zlotys (dlrs 370 million). Poland is to pay 90 million zlotys (dlrs 22 million) to train crews and maintain the tanks. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
