The sale of Russian arms to Venezuela will continue, because it is a sovereign decision of the two countries and complies with international rules and regulations, Russian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Americas Serguei Kisliak said during his stay in Mexico.

"This deal has been made under current international rules and regulations; sales will continue, and approved decisions will be observed," Kisliak claimed during a press conference.

Reporters wondered if the agreements in the defense area entered into by Caracas and Moscow could annoy Washington, as it has opposed previously to sales of weapons  with US technology to President Hugo Chávez' Government. "It is a sovereign decision," Kisliak answered, as stated by AFP.

Additionally, the Russian senior official asserted that the materials "do not have any destabilizing character in this hemisphere."

The Venezuelan Government agreed to purchase 33 Russian military choppers and 100,000 rifles. In the face of recent troubles to get spare parts for US F-16, President Chávez expressed readiness to buy Russian aircraft.