BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/03/2010

Venezuela's Chavez strengthens ties with Belarus

By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER

CARACAS, Venezuela

Venezuela and Belarus strengthened ties in energy and trade Wednesday, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez saying they are seeking to increase their independence from the U.S. and other "imperialist" nations.

Chavez and his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, agreed to invest $1.6 billion to create a joint venture to develop oil and natural gas projects in this South American country. The projects are expected to produce 200 million cubic feet of natural gas a day by 2012, part of Venezuela's efforts to triple gas output, Chavez said.

Officials also reached an agreement for Venezuela to ship 80,000 barrels of heavy crude a day to Belarus, a former Soviet republic. Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said the shipments are expected to begin in May under a one-year contract, which could be renewed.

"We will begin with 80,000 barrels a day, but we'll be increasing to 100,000 barrels a day so that the people of Belarus have all the oil they need," Chavez said.

Chavez said Venezuela and Belarus are united in an "anti-imperialist" stance -- a reference to their shared hostile position toward Washington.

"We are the counter-empires. We are fighting for independence," said Chavez, who frequently accuses the United States of conspiring to topple his socialist government. "This has brought us together as brothers."

U.S. officials, for their part, have voiced concerns about authoritarianism and measures that they say undermine democracy in both Venezuela and Belarus.

Lukashenko, who has been dubbed "Europe's last dictator" by critics, also took a dig at the United States, saying Belarusian companies now working in Venezuela have been far more efficient than their American counterparts.

Under the agreements signed Wednesday, Belarus also pledged to build public housing complexes and a factory to manufacture tractors and trucks in Venezuela. The two nations agreed to boost trade in construction materials and equipment.

Despite the long-standing political tensions between Chavez and Washington, the United States remains the top buyer of Venezuela's oil.

Source:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9EGMRLG0.htm


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