BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/07/2006

U.S.-Foe Chavez Urges Belarus' Lukashenko to Build "Fighting Team"

MosNews

Venezuela's firebrand leader Hugo Chavez has called for a "fighting team" with his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko during his visit to the state dubbed "Europe's last dictatorship" by Washington, AFP reports.

"I have found another friend here and we should form a team. It will be a fighting team," Chavez said Monday at a meeting with Lukashenko in Minsk, the Belarussian capital. Lukashenko, who is fond of ice hockey, responded jokingly to Chavez's offer, saying: "We can form a team for football, hockey or basketball."

The two leaders are considered pariahs by the Washington, which has accused them of running hardline regimes and has hit both their countries with economic sanctions.

Chavez's visit was being seen mainly as a chance for closer relations between the two presidents, who are known for their eccentric leadership styles and their defiance against Washington.

Chavez is also looking to drum up international support on a world tour that will take in Iran, Russia and Vietnam to back Venezuela's bid to join the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member.

"Here we feel ourselves to be among our brothers," Chavez said after his arrival at Minsk airport on Sunday at the start of his three-day visit to Belarus.

"We see here a model social state like the one we are beginning to create," said Chavez, the first Venezuelan leader to visit the former Soviet republic lodged between Poland and Russia on the European Union's eastern border.

Commenting on the visit, Belarussian news website tut.by said Monday that Chavez and Lukashenko -- the first a former army lieutenant colonel, the second an ex-Soviet farm director -- would form a strong bond.

"There are no doubts that Lukashenko and Chavez will find a common language. Both presidents are charismatic public figures, even though the international community has labelled them dictators.

"Chavez has already affected almost the whole of Central America and the Caribbean states with his anti-Americanism... He will probably find a couple of interesting suggestions for Belarus too," the website said.

Washington frequently criticizes Chavez's democratic credentials and the Venezuelan leader in turn accuses Washington of plotting to invade his country, a major supplier of oil to the United States.

Following Lukashenko's controversial re-election in a landslide victory in March, Washington froze the Belarussian leader's assets and imposed a travel ban on top Belarussian officials.

Lukashenko responded with similar sanctions against U.S. officials.

After arriving in the Belarussian capital, Chavez said he wanted greater economic cooperation between Belarus and Venezuela, particularly in the sectors of energy, petrochemicals, machinery, education and science.

Belarus and Venezuela were set to sign accords on energy and agriculture, as well as science and technology, Lukashenko's press service said.

Belarus manufactures farm machines and trucks that are exported largely to former Soviet states, while Venezuela is one of the world's leading oil producers.

Later Monday, Chavez is set to take part in a World War II commemoration ceremony on Minsk's Victory Square and visit a network of Soviet-era fortresses outside the Belarussian capital.

The Venezuelan leader is then to visit a Belarussian military academy on Tuesday before flying to Russia on the next step of his world tour.

In Russia, Chavez will meet President Vladimir Putin and mark a deal under which Russia will supply 30 Su-30 fighter jets and 30 helicopters to Venezuela.

Washington has voiced worries about Russian arms sales to Venezuela, having banned such deals with Caracas for U.S. manufacturers.

Chavez said last month that his visit to Russia could see a deal on building a Kalashnikov assault rifle factory in Venezuela

Source:

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/07/24/fightteam.shtml

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