MARIA DANIELA ESPINOZA
EL UNIVERSAL

Retired major general Maximiliano Hernández, former commander of the Venezuelan Air Force, ensured that President Hugo Chávez' government cannot sell or dispose of US-made F-16 fighter jets without US authorization, as Washington owns their technology.

In 1982, Hernández conducted negotiations to purchase 24 F-16 planes from the United States.

He clarified, however, that under the F-16 sales agreement penalties shall be imposed only in the event of the purchaser's failure to meet payments or delayed delivery by the manufacturer.

On Tuesday, Chávez threatened President George W. Bush' administration with sending Venezuela's F-16 planes to Cuba or China. The Venezuelan ruler stressed: "when a party fails to comply with an agreement, the other party is entitled to disclaim such agreement."

Chávez argued that Washington refuses to sell parts for Venezuela's F-16 fighter jets and puts pressure on other countries to refrain from parts sales as well.  "Now they do not want to sell us maintenance parts for the F-16s," Chavez said. "Not only that, when we try to find parts in other countries, the US pressures them not to sell to us."

"This decision cannot be made unilaterally. This is a foreign policy issue. If the United States finds it convenient to disclose F-16 technology to other countries, then they should allow a country to give those planes to unsuitable countries. Cuba has no relevant aeronautical tradition, as it has not developed aeronautical technology. The Chinese may be, but they do not have an outstanding position in this field, as their planes are manufactured under Russian license," the senior officer stressed. Hernández added that the National Assembly should assess transfer of F-16s.

In his view, the sales agreement "was always very favorable" for Venezuela. Among other "advantages," the instrument set "no constraints" regarding the use of the planes, or their maintenance or upgrade. Consequently, spare parts can be purchased from any other countries, such as Israel, but "in a way that favors international relations with the United States and those third countries."

Nothing against Cuba
Hernández dismissed claims that Venezuela purchased F-16s "to neutralize Cuba revolution" and that the United States encouraged the operation "with a view to set an enclave in Venezuela," as President Chávez asserted on initialing an agreement to purchase a communications satellite from China.

"It is not true. Cuba was never mentioned during negotiations. The reason why we sought purchase of F-16 aircrafts was to update the Air Force. Back then, we had over 100 obsolete planes and we faced serious trouble getting spare parts," Hernández stated.

The retired military officer underscored that purchase of US-made F-16 airplanes "has been the only purchase of military material ever subject to public debate during 10 months."

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.