Moscow, Sept 27, SPA -- The chief of staff of Syria's armed forces,Gen. Ali Habib, was set to open talks on military cooperation with high-ranking Russian defense officials on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said. Habib was to meet with his Russian counterpart, Gen. YuriBaluyevsky, and others. The ITAR-Tass news agency said theSyrian and Russian officials would discuss the weapons trade as well as opportunities for Syrian military personnel to be trained in Russian Defense Ministry academies. Habib was to visit a factory in Tula that produces theStrelets air defense system and Iskander-Elvirasemi-strategic missile complex, ITAR-Tass said, citing anunnamed source in the Russian Defense Ministry. He was alsoscheduled to meet with top officials from Russia's weaponssales agencies during his three-day tour.--SPA1159 Local Time 0859 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/292480