Russia, Venezuela ink deal on military planes sales

Venezuela has a contract to buy 24 Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, the head of Russia's arms export agency confirmed yesterday after a meeting between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

"Some contracts for US$3 billion have been signed over the last year and a half" including "for 24 Sukhois and 53 helicopters," Sergei Chemezov, director of Rosoboronexport, told reporters.

At the start of yesterday's meeting, Chavez told Putin: "We would like to thank you for freeing us from a blockade," referring to the warplanes deal.

The Russian deals with US arch-foe Chavez have angered Washington, which has banned US manufacturers from selling arms to Caracas. In his comments following yesterday's meeting, Putin appeared to respond to this criticism.

"Co-operation between Russia and Venezuela is not directed against anyone. It aims to raise the living standards of the population," Putin said.

Earlier this week, US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said: "We certainly hope that the Russians will reconsider this sale."

But Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov responded that there was no way Russia would reconsider selling the fighter jets to Venezuela, saying: "A re-examination of the contracts is absolutely ruled out."

Venezuela has said it cannot get spare parts for its US-built F-16 fighter jets because of the US ban and Chavez said earlier Venezuela could sell the F-16s and replace them with Russian jets.

Source: China Daily