Moscow, Nov 16, SPA -- Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesdaythat Moscow could sell arms to Iraq, which bought billionsof dollars of Soviet weapons under Saddam Hussein. Ivanov said that if the Iraqi administration makes such arequest, Russia is ready to sell weapons and help trainIraqi military personnel. "We could do that ... if the Iraqi government asks us toprovide military-technical assistance," Ivanov said,according to the Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies. "Ifthere is such a request, we are ready to resume supplies." Ivanov said that if Baghdad asks Moscow to train itsmilitary personnel, that could only be done in Russia or athird country. Col.-Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, the chief of General Staff ofRussia's armed forces, said Tuesday that NATO's supremeallied commander in Europe, U.S. Gen. James Jones,suggested that Russia supply weapons to Iraq. "Equipping the (Iraqi) army with Soviet-designed weapons,which are reliable and not that difficult to use andmaintain, is the most efficient option," Baluyevsky saidin remarks carried by NTV television. "It was Gen. Joneswho suggested that. I said I would report that to myleadership, but from my personal viewpoint it's quitefeasible." Russia opposed the war in Iraq, but backed U.S.-proposedpost-war stabilization efforts. It has refused to sendpeacekeepers to Iraq, but expressed a strong interest inmaintaining oil exploration contracts it has signed withHussein's government.--SPA-1414 Local Time 1114 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/217627