14 October 2010

not consulting an astrologer

[click image]

.

Hugo Chavez to talk military, trade in Moscow
Published 14 October, 2010, 09:49
Edited 14 October, 2010, 20:25

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is to seek further cooperation with Russia during his two-day visit to Moscow.

Speaking at the Two Centuries of Independence of Latin America conference, at the Foreign Literature Library in Moscow, Chavez assured that Venezuela was not building a nuclear bomb, as the only kind of nuclear energy it is interested is peaceful.

Chavez also called the collapse of the Soviet Union a “catastrophe”.

He went on to say, “Although the world has changed, Russia and Venezuela continue to play an immense role in the world balance of powers,” Itar Tass quoted.

He also made a number of strong statements regarding the US.

“You must have heard a Mexican leader say, ‘Poor Mexico, so far from God, and so close to the United States,’” Chavez said. “All of us Latin Americans could say the exact same thing. Out, poor America. So far from God and so close to the… Yankee empire that has hurt our continent so badly.”

On Friday Chavez is to meet his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

During his talks with Russian leaders, Chavez is expected to discuss cooperation up to 2014. This covers military, nuclear sectors, construction and also joint financial and industrial plans.

They will be signing the Action Plan which will outline upcoming joint work. The aim is to boost bilateral trade, including in the military-technical sphere.

Military deals between Russia and Venezuela now exceed US$4 billion.

Venezuela is constructing three military plants – to produce Kalashnikov rifles, to make cartridges, and an aircraft repair plant to service Russian helicopter equipment. Caracas plans to buy ten Ilyushin planes, two Il-78MK refueling aircraft and Russian Mi-28NE helicopters.

Venezuela might also become the first export customer for Sukhoi fighter jets, according to the Russian military export company, Rosoboronexport.

In the near future, military equipment exports to Venezuela could reach $5 billion, said Vladimir Putin.

However, the countries’ cooperation is not restricted to the military sector alone. As Hugo Chavez announced earlier, Caracas may build a nuclear power plant in Venezuela with Russia’s support.

The leaders also expect to finalize establishing a joint Russian-Venezuelan bank, as agreed in 2009. The bank’s headquarters would be in Moscow, with offices in Venezuela and China.

Another topic on the agenda is Russia’s assistance in building social housing, hospitals and schools for Venezuela’s poor, which was discussed during a previous visit to Caracas by Russian leaders.

It is the Venezuelan leader’s ninth visit to Russia, after which he’s due to head for Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, Syria and Portugal.

.
love, 99
.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.