EL UNIVERSAL

Amidst a European tour taking him to Spain, Portugal and Belarus, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is slated to arrive in Russia on Tuesday with a portfolio full of arms orders.

The Venezuelan ruler said before departing for Europe that the goal of his visit to Moscow was "to consolidate a strategic alliance with Russia in the political, economic, technological and military fronts."  

Chávez is expected to meet in Moscow with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. "I want to build a relationship of friendship and political reliability with the new Russian president," said Chávez.  

As in previous visits, Chávez is expected to purchase Russian weapons and strengthen technical and military bilateral cooperation. Both countries, however, are also interested in diversifying trade.

The Venezuelan president said in Caracas that during his visit to Moscow, he would check some Russian war tanks that Venezuela could buy. 

"We are checking some tanks that are very good. They are very modern and fast. They have a great mobility. They can hide, leap; they can ford rivers. These Russian tanks are very modern. I will take a look. We are going to bring in several war tanks," the Venezuelan Head of State stressed.

According to sources close to the Russian military industry, during Chávez visit both countries could enter into a number of weapons purchase agreements totaling more than USD 1 billion, Interfax reported.

Venezuela's government is interested in purchasing some 10-20 TOR-M1 air defense systems, the same weapons that Iran bought at the end of 2005. Chávez could also buy three "Varshavianka" class electric diesel submarines.
These third-generation weapons, equipped with torpedo tubes, would allow discontinuance by the Venezuelan Navy of two 209-Class German submarines that have been in service for more than three decades, Efe reported.
 
"Venezuela is planning to buy in the future six conventional submarines and several dozens vessels," the Russian military source said.

The negotiations related to the purchase of two dozens coastguard airplanes and several Mi-28N fighter helicopters -also known as "Night Hunters"- are well under way.

According to the Russian press, Moscow is willing to grant a USD 800 million loan to Venezuela for arms purchases.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas