Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
Photo: AP
Hugo Chavez
Photo: AP
Russia offers Venezuela nuclear help
President Hugo Chavez says Moscow agreed to help his country build a nuclear facility. Latter also pledges continued arms aid as countries launch joint venture meant to tap Venezuela's oil deposits
Russia has agreed to help Venezuela draw up plans for a nuclear power plant, President Hugo Chavez said Friday.
"We're ready to start drawing up the first plan of a nuclear power plant, obviously with peaceful aims," Chavez said. Chavez had announced plans to turn to Russia for nuclear help in the past. He did not give details on how much Venezuela is prepared to invest, or how long it might take.
Atomic energy was one of many areas of cooperation discussed as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the South American country.
Nuclear Ambitions
Venezuelan president says working with several countries to develop nuclear energy, but adds, 'We will never build a nuclear bomb'
Russia and Venezuela also launched a joint business to tap vast oil deposits in eastern Venezuela, and Chavez said Moscow has offered to help Venezuela set up its own space industry including a satellite launch site.
Putin also pledged to keep selling arms to Venezuela. Chavez's government has already bought more than $4 billion in Russian weapons since 2005, including helicopters, fighter jets and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles. "We will continue supporting and developing Venezuela's defense capabilities," said Putin, who headed back to Moscow after the one-day visit.
He noted Russia has agreed to lend Venezuela up to $2.2 billion for additional arms deals and said Venezuela has yet to use any of those funds. Chavez said the two governments were discussing new arms deals but did not give details.
Officials signed 31 agreements during Putin's visit to deepen cooperation in areas from air transport to agriculture. Russia is sending more than 2,000 Lada cars to Venezuela, Chavez said. Putin said there are plans to eventually assemble the cars in Venezuela.
Chavez has grown increasingly close to Russia, Iran and China while fiercely criticizing US policies, and his calls for countering US influence to create a "multi-polar world" have found resonance in Moscow.
"Our objective is to make the world more democratic, make it balanced and multi-polar," Putin said. "The cooperation between Russia and Venezuela in this context has special importance."
When asked by a reporter how the US might view Venezuela's growing defense spending, Chavez noted Washington has barred arms sales to his government.
"The Yankee empire doesn't want us to have one single little plane," he said, adding: "We don't really care what Washington thinks. We aren't making alliances here against Washington."
Putin said if the United States doesn't want to sell arms to Venezuela, "well, for us that's good."
