[NYTr] Russia Expects Rising Weapons Sales to Venezuela

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

VHeadline - Oct 29, 2007
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=76608

Moscow expects doubling or trebling of Russia's weapons sales to
Venezuela

Moscow expects a doubling or trebling of Russia's weapons sales
(currently amounting to US$4 billion) in agreements with Venezuela over
the next few years, according to Russian state arms exporting agency
Rosoboronexport executive Serguei Ladiguin.

"We have initialed agreements for US$4 billion with Venezuela and we
are to at least  double or treble this sum," Ladiguin told Russian
television in a direct broadcast from Caracas, where he was taking part
in Venezuela-Russia bilateral cooperation meetings.

Ladiguin stressed that Russia and Venezuela are drafting supply
agreements for warships, warplanes and helicopter gunships, as well as
a wide range of weapons for the Army.

Reported by Interfax, Ladiguin reminded his audience that Moscow is
actually supplying Su-30 warplanes, different types of helicopter
gunships and cargo choppers, as well as Kalashnikov rifles to Venezuela
and that Russia is also building three military manufacturing
facilities in Venezuela ... one Kalashnikov manufacturing plant, an
ammunutions factory and one helicopter maintenance and repair workshops.

Over the last few years, Venezuela has made significant weapon
purchases from Russia, including 24 Su-30MK warplanes, 50 helicopter
gunships and cargo choppers, Tor-M1 anti-aircraft defense systems and
100,000 Kalashnikov rifles. 

Ladiguin confirmed that Rosoboronexport has an interest in
consolidating its position in the Latin American marketplace.

"We do believe our company can offer a lot to Latin America,
particularly in transferring certain technologies and supplying a
number of equipment, not only military items."