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US: Venezuela's Russia fleet invite is 'curious'
Crawford, Texas (AFP) Aug 18, 2008 The White House said Monday that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's invitation to host a Russian fleet was "curious" and accused him of neglecting his people's problems. "The Russians and the Venezuelans can engage in whatever cooperation that they would like. But it's curious, I'm not sure what Venezuela needs or gains by a visit by the Russian fleet," said spokesman Gordon Johndroe. "You would think that President Chavez would concentrate more on the problems that the people of Venezulea are having rather than inviting the fleet in for a port call," he said, adding that he could not confirm the invitation. Chavez said during his weekly radio program on Sunday that Russian President Dimitri Medvedev wanted to send a Russian naval fleet to visit Venezuela. "I told the president (Medvedev), 'If you're coming to the Caribbean, we'll welcome you,'" Chavez said, adding that the Russian naval fleet would pay "a friendly and working" visit to Venezuela. Under the leftist Chavez, Venezuela has been seeking closer relations with Moscow, in part to buy military hardware, including 24 Russian Sukhoi fighter jets recently delivered, after Washington refused to supply spare parts for the F-16 jets it sold Venezuela in the 1980s. Over the past few years, Venezuela and Russia have signed 4.0 billion dollars' worth of arms deals, including AK-47 automatic rifles and military helicopters. Related Links Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Tougher Russia could complicate UN work
United Nations (AFP) Aug 16, 2008A more assertive Russia as shown in the Georgia conflict could complicate the diplomatic resolution of hot issues on the UN Security Council's agenda, such as Iran's nuclear activities, diplomats and experts say. |
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