March 21, 2005
Russian diplomat dismisses U.S. concerns over arms sales to Venezuela

(AP Worldstream) - "Russia's deputy foreign minister dismissed U.S. concerns that its sale of assault rifles and helicopters to Venezuela was intended to encourage a regional arms race.

Serguei Kislyak said the arms sales, including a US$120 million deal signed earlier this month for ten military transport and attack helicopters, were to help the Venezuelan military meet its needs.

'Our cooperation with Venezuela in the military field is related only to the country's needs ... it does not have any destabilizing nature,' Kislyak said after a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Alí Rodríguez.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has rejected U.S. criticism of the helicopter purchase and Venezuela's plans to acquire 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles from Russia (...)".