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US urges Russia to reconsider arms sale to Venezuela
AFP
WASHINGTON
Petroleumworld.com 07 26 06
The United States said on Tuesday it hopes Russia will reconsider a planned sale of military aircraft to Venezuela, saying it posed a possible threat to stability in the region.
"I think on this issue, we've got a very clear opinion and we certainly hope that the Russians will reconsider this sale because we don't think it's in the best interest of Russia or Venezuela," Tom Casey, a spokesman for the State Department, said at a press conference.
As part of his visit this week to Russia, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was due to travel to the Russian city of Volgograd, home to to arms producing factories, and Izhevsk, birthplace of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Venezuela recently bought 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles. During his visit to Moscow Chavez hopes to seal a deal for 30 Su-30 fighter jets and 30 helicopters.
"We've repeatedly talked to the Russian government that the arms purchases planned by Venezuela exceeded its defensive needs and are not helpful in terms of regional stability," Casey said.
"And certainly given the fact that this aircraft costs between 30 million and 45 million each, depending on which model you're talking about, kind of raises some questions about Venezuela's priorities."
But Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel dismissed on Monday US objections to the sale.
"I simply have to say that the United States should not to worry so much about Venezuela," Rangel said.
AFP 25 2249 GMT 07 06
Copyright ©2006 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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