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Gold9472
06-01-2005, 07:24 PM
Venezuela and Russia Sign 12 Cooperation Agreements

http://www.mosnews.com/money/2005/06/01/venezuela.shtml

(Gold9472: Hmmmm... getting ready for something?)

Created: 01.06.2005
MosNews

On Tuesday, May 31, at the conclusion of a two-day business forum which took place in Caracas, Venezuelan and Russian officials signed 12 cooperation agreements, including proposed electricity and mining projects. The forum included participation of 16 Russian companies along with Venezuelan business leaders and organizers of the country’s state-supported cooperatives.

Following the signing procedure, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that the agreements, coupled with his nation’s purchase last month of 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles from Russia, were proof of strong relations between Caracas and Moscow, Associated Press reported. Chavez did not discuss the details of the agreements.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Jorge Garcia Carniero said regarding the Kalashnikov contract that each rifle is to cost $386 and will come with 120 ammunition cartridges, bayonets and other accessories. Therefore, the price of that contract will amount to almost $4 million. The deal also includes 2 million instruction manuals and a target simulator for training, along with other technology.

45 Venezuelan officers will receive relevant training in Russia. The U.S. government has expressed concern about the deal, but Chavez has downplayed U.S. worries saying the rifles are needed to replace outdated weapons and will pose no threat to stability in the region.

Among the Russian companies that plan large investments in the Venezuelan economy are oil major Lukoil and aluminium giant Russian Aluminium (RusAl).