Chavez accepts Russian nuclear offer
Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:03:48 GMT
Venezuelan President Chavez (L), Russian PM Putin
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accepted a Russian offer to help expand his country's civilian nuclear program.

"We are interested in developing nuclear energy." AP quoted Chavez as saying. "Russia is ready to support Venezuela in the development of nuclear energy with peaceful purposes and we already have a commission working on it."

In a meeting with Chavez last week, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow was ready to consider nuclear energy cooperation with Caracas.

During Chavez's visit, Russia also agreed to grant Venezuela a loan of $1 billion for a "military-technical cooperation" program.

Russian 'Peter the Great' for a joint naval exercise with Venezuela


Since 2005, Russia and Venezuela have signed arms contracts worth more than $4.4 billion to supply Caracas with fighter jets, helicopters, and Kalashnikov assault rifles.

The Kremlin has stepped up contacts with Venezuela, Cuba and other Latin American countries after Russia's relations with the United States soured over the Georgia conflict last month.

Venezuela has also moved to defend its interests against US intervention with the expulsion of the US ambassador to Caracas earlier this month following renewed rumors of a US-backed coup attempt.

Last week, a Russian naval squadron sailed for the Caribbean Sea in preparation for joint exercises with Venezuela later this year in the largest Russian naval maneuvers in the Caribbean since the Cold War.

"The Russian fleet has already departed... and should arrive in Venezuela at the end of November for maneuvers to increase our defense capability," AFP quoted Chavez as saying.

"We are not going to invade anyone, or engage in acts of aggression toward anyone," said Chavez. "But no one should mistake our intention -- we are prepared to do everything necessary to defend Venezuelan sovereignty."

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texas grass Reviewed by texas grass on . Chavez accepts Russian nuclear offer Chavez accepts Russian nuclear offer Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:03:48 GMT Venezuelan President Chavez (L), Russian PM Putin Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accepted a Russian offer to help expand his country's civilian nuclear program. "We are interested in developing nuclear energy." AP quoted Chavez as saying. "Russia is ready to support Venezuela in the development of nuclear energy with peaceful purposes and we already have a commission working on it." In a meeting with Chavez last Rating: 5