July 27, 2006
Russia defends military cooperation with Venezuela

(Xinhua) - "Russia's military cooperation with Venezuela does not contradict international law, the Foreign Ministry said, a day after the United States expressed concern over Russia's plan to sell fighter jets to the South American nation.

'Russia implements military-technical cooperation with Venezuela, as it does with other nations, in full accordance with international and Russian legal norms,' ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.

Russia and Venezuela are building their relations upon market principles and considering the competitiveness of the commodity in question, he said.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said last week that Russia had struck a one billion-U.S. dollar deal with Venezuela to sell 30 Sukhoi-30 fighter jets and as many helicopters to the country.

The U.S. State Department said the United States has raised the issue several times with Russia and maintains its opposition to the deal.

Venezuela is seeking to acquire Sukhoi-30 jets to replace its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 jets, citing maintenance problems due to a U.S. weapons embargo.

The U.S. government has forbidden U.S. manufacturers to sell arms to Venezuela, accusing the country of not being a reliable partner in the war on terror."