Friday, June 27, 2008

Vice President Ramon Carrizalez says President Hugo Chavez could visit Russia next month

Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Vice President Ramon Carrizalez said that President Hugo Chavez could visit Russia next month, although he didn't disclose a precise date. Russian Premier Vladimir Putin and Chavez spoke about a visit during a conversation this week.

Carrizalez is in Moscow for talks that appear to center on arms supplies in what is seen as a preamble to a high-profile trip by Chavez later this year. "The exact date of the visit by our president to Russia still isn't known, but it could take place towards the end of July," Carrizalez reportedly said after meeting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Zhukov.

Russia has become Venezuela's leading supplier of war materiel as Chavez shifts from traditional reliance on the United States for weaponry. Bilateral trade more than doubled last year to $1.129 billion. The balance was massively in Russia's favor, with exports of $1.117 billion against $12.5 million in imports from Venezuela. Reports citing official sources say 94 percent of Russian exports to Venezuela were military, including fighter bombers.

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