http://news.netster.com/data/15_ds_1851651.asp
Venezuela Military Displays New Weaponry
Venezuelan soldiers carrying Russian made AK-103 assault rifles march
during Venezuela's independence day military parade in Fort Tiuna in Caracas,
Venezuela, Wednesday, July 5, 2006. Venezuela has bought 100,000 Russian-made
AK-103 assault rifles, 15 Russian military helicopters and wants to close a
deal for 24 Sukhoi fighter jets, when Chavez travels to Moscow later this
month. (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero)
05:49 PM EST July 05, 2006
The Associated Press
CARACAS, Venezuela
A pair of Russian-made fighter jets roared overhead and soldiers marched
in formation carrying new Kalashnikov rifles Wednesday as Venezuela marked its
Independence Day showcasing recent arms deals that have alarmed Washington.
President Hugo Chavez addressed the troops and thousands of spectators,
saying his military is growing stronger despite U.S. attempts to block weapons
sales.
"Venezuela is not preparing to invade anybody," Chavez said. "But nobody
mess with us, because we are ready to die to safeguard the sovereignty of this
land."
Chavez says his country is preparing to face a possible U.S. invasion, a
claim dismissed as ridiculous by American officials, who are often at odds with
the leftist leader.
Tanks and jeeps rolled down a major avenue during Wednesday's parade,
while two recently bought Sukhoi fighter jets swooped and dived in the sky.
Chavez welcomed the Russian inventor of the Kalashnikov rifle, the
elderly Mikhail Kalashnikov, who was visiting along with a Russian military
delegation.
"We salute General Kalashnikov," Chavez said, calling him a "World War II
hero of the great Russian fatherland."
Over Washington's opposition, Venezuela has received an initial shipment
of 30,000 Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles out of 100,000 it is buying from
Russia this year for $54 million. It is also obtaining a license to eventually
produce its own rifles at the first Kalashnikov factory in South America.
Chavez, a former paratroop commander, is using booming oil revenues to
modernize Venezuela's military, and has finalized deals worth $2.7 billion for
the rifles, Russian military helicopters, Spanish transport planes, patrol
boats and other items.
Chavez said more Sukhoi jets will arrive soon from Russia.
It remains unclear how many billions Venezuela will spend on the 24 Su-30
fighter jets that Chavez hopes to buy from Russia. He plans to discuss the deal
during a visit to Moscow at the end of the month.
In his speech to troops and parade-watchers, Chavez accused the U.S.
government of trying to ground Venezuela's fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets
by refusing to supply replacement parts, but said his country was undeterred.
"The U.S. government has sabotaged us by failing to meet its contracts
and obligations," he said. "Nonetheless, our air force is recuperating
operations and especially now ... (with) the most powerful warplanes in the
world."
U.S. officials say they supplied some replacement parts but are not
required under the original sale contract to provide upgrades.
American officials, who claim Chavez's military buildup is exaggerated
and threatens to destabilize the region, announced in May they were curtailing
arms sales to Venezuela, saying the country was failing to cooperate in
counterterrorism efforts.
But Chavez said that was purely politics aimed at discrediting his
government, since he has become a leading critical voice against the Bush
administration.
Among other dignitaries attending the Independence Day ceremonies were
the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, who attended Venezuela's
formal entry into the Mercosur trade bloc on Tuesday.
Chavez proposed Wednesday that Mercosur members - Brazil, Argentina,
Venezuela, Uruguay and Paraguay - should one day join their militaries to
guarantee the region's security. The Venezuelan leader is a frequent proponent
of South American integration, but a fierce opponent of U.S. trade deals.
The commemorations mark the day Venezuela became the first South American
country to declare independence from Spain in 1811. Chavez laid a floral wreath
at the tomb of South American independence hero Simon Bolivar, the inspiration
for Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution socialist movement.
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