http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/16-06-2006/82082-Venezuela-0
Venezuela to purchase 24 new Russian fighter jets
16.06.2006
President Hugo Chavez confirmed the deal on Wednesday after months of
speculations over the issue.
Finally, President Hugo Chavez confirmed what was until Wednesday an open
secret. Venezuela will buy 24 new Russian Sukhoi fighter jets this year to
replace a fleet of old US-made F-16s.
Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez handles a Russian AK-103
rifle in Caracas
BREAKING NEWS
The leader of the South American nation took the decision a few weeks
after the Pentagon issued an order to stop all arms shipments to Caracas
quoting intelligence reports which say that Venezuela is aiding leftist rebels
in neighbor Colombia. President Chavez made the announcement Wednesday in a
speech before hundreds of soldiers at a military base in Caracas.
"First we are going to buy 24 Sukhoi S-30s and we are going to leave open
the possibility of a future acquisition," Mr Chavez said in the country's
capital, Caracas, where also presented the troops with new Russian-made AK-103
rifles - part of an order of 100,000 of the weapons scheduled for delivery
within the next six months.
The president lavished praise on the Sukhoi fighters. "An F-16 launches a
missile, maximum distance: 60km (40 miles). Do you all know from what distance
the Sukhoi Su-30 can launch? 200km," Mr Chavez said. "That's to say, an
aircraft carrier that stops in the Caribbean. They [the US] like to stop
aircraft carriers in the Caribbean to invade."
The Venezuelan government said the new weaponry will help the country to
defend its sacred land from any possible foreign attack. Chavez has frequently
warned that the United States could invade to seize control of Venezuela's vast
oil reserves.
According to the US administration, alleged Venezuelan links to Cuba and
Iran are a reason to ban arms sales to the government in Caracas. Venezuela has
warned it could sell its F-16 fighter jets to other countries, such as Iran,
while looking to buy more aircraft from Russia. U.S. officials say Washington
and Caracas have previously signed agreements that would not allow such a
resale.
Hernan Etchaleco
Pravda.Ru
Discuss this article on Pravda.Ru English Forum
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Yahoo! Groups gets a make over. See the new email design.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/U0DZdC/lOaOAA/E2hLAA/BRUplB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:
1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Reading only, http://dear.to/ppi
4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
