Venezuela to sign with Russia contract on helicopter purchase
19/2/2005 11:13
Venezuela will sign a contract with Russia next Monday on the purchase of
10 helicopters, the local daily El Universal quoted an official as saying on
Friday. The 120-million-US-dollar agreement is part of Venezuela's planned
acquirement of 44 helicopters from Russia, said Eddy Rios, president of the
Defense Commission of the National Assembly. The first six helicopters will
arrive within nine months and the rest will be delivered in the following three
months, Rios said. No details about the signing venue were available. Rios
also said a contract to acquire Russian AK-47 assault rifles to replace
traditional FALs will be signed when the first stage of helicopter negotiations
is concluded. On Thursday, the Venezuelan parliament approved a resolution
supporting efforts "to activate, renew and update the equipment of the armed
forces" and rejected the "intervention" of the United States on the issue of
arms purchase from Russia. But the resolution did not gain support from the
opposition legislators who consider it "immoral and insensitive" to spend
millions of dollars on the helicopters when thousands of people are affected by
rain and need help.
Xinhua
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