* President Hugo Chávez appreciated "steadiness of Spanish authorities to stand the imperialist attack that tried to exert pressure" to prevent sale of military equipment to Venezuela.

* During the 241st edition of TV and radio show "Aló, Presidente," aired from Tía Juana field, Southern Lake Maracaibo, eastern Zulia state, the head of state congratulated Defense Minister Orlando Maniglia for such expeditious negotiations.

* "I would like to give a recognition to King Don Juan Carlos de Borbón, my good friend José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Defense Minister José Pepe Bono, and all of Spain, for their steadiness, for having stood outrage and disrespect of the imperialist US government, that now does not even want us to buy a patrol boat and some ships," he admonished.

* The ruler complained again about the US refusal to comply with the agreement on F16 aircraft, but warned that the Venezuelan government will not "stand still in the face of such a violation."

* "The US government is disrupting and refusing to comply with an agreement. They sold us these planes, and now they do not want to sell us the spare parts. They delay delivery, or send us different spare parts. They play every trick to make our planes non-operational."

* Maniglia, who left before the Sunday show was over to meet with his Spanish counterpart José Bono, reported that the first units would arrive within 18 or 20 months, and the whole fleet will be in Venezuela in a three-year term.

* "Most importantly, there will be technological transfer. The last patrol boat will be manufactured in Venezuela," the Defense Minister stated.

* During a ceremony at Ayacucho Hall, Miraflores presidential palace, the Venezuelan and Spanish government executed an agreement to buy 12 planes and eight patrol boats for the Venezuelan army.

* President Chávez, Minister Maniglia, and Minister Bono headed the ceremony.

* Based on the agreements signed Monday, Venezuela will get 10 military planes for transportation and two aircrafts for maritime patrolling, as well as a total of eight patrol boats, including four for coastal surveillance and four for ocean patrolling across the exclusive economic zone.

* The Spanish Defense Minister favored the operation and claimed that the units would not be used for military offensive.

* The sale of aircraft and patrol boats to Venezuela is not offensive in nature, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos underscored during a hearing at the Spanish Senate.

* Moratinos recalled that the prior government under conservative José María Aznar "sold pistols, cartridges and grenades to Venezuela. Therefore, it cannot give any lessons to anybody."

* Spanish Popular Senator Dionisio García cautioned the socialist government, because "there is coverage of a system that is not characterized by respect for human rights and poses threat in the area."

* García fears "erratic and mistaken policy" that will bring negative outcome for Spain, Efe reported.

* In reply, Moratinos insisted on saying that the agreement executed Monday by Minister Bono and President Chávez in Caracas is a significant sale for the Spanish companies and society.

* In his opinion, such an initiative allows for Spain-Venezuela understanding and a consolidated stability in the hemisphere.

* Amnesty International (AI) requested the Spanish government to refrain from selling weapons or military materials to Colombia and criticized the deal ratified with Venezuela, "a highly explosive area where the sale does not help with hemispheric stability."

* AI director in Spain Esteban Beltrán voiced these remarks during presentation of the fourth Amnesty International report on foreign policy and human rights of the Spanish government. The report shows the organization concern against the Cabinet "token" being materialized, Efe reported.

* One of the items in the paper makes reference to arms trade, a prevailing issue following the recent sale of aircraft and patrol boats to Venezuela and an offer to Colombia of 21 planes and four choppers.

* Beltrán stressed the need for Spain to enact a law regulating arms trade, and claimed that transfer of such materials to Colombia may infringe the European Union code of conduct, which bans such operations with countries in conflict and where human rights are not respected.