BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/07/2007

Belarus to Sell to Venezuela Weapons for $1bln

Belarus is willing to sell to Venezuela weapons for a total worth of $1 billion. The deal will provide for production of infantry combat vehicles and selling the armaments made in time of the former Soviet Union, Associated Press reported.

The respective contracts are expected to be concluded by August, said Belarus' Security Council Chief Viktor Sheiman. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has approved the contracts that were sealed earlier, Sheiman specified.

Therefore, if the deal is clinched, Belarus will emerge as the second state of the former Soviet Union (after Russia) delivering weapons to Venezuela. It is not surprising that Chavez has already named Lukashenko a comrade-in-arms and called for strategic partnership.

Past year, Venezuela made contracts with Russia to buy armaments for the total worth of roughly $3 billion, including 100,000 Kalashnikov sub-machine guns, 24 Su-30 fighters and 53 combat helicopters. Venezuela also intends to launch Latin America's first plant to produce Kalashnikov sub-machine guns.

Source:

http://www.kommersant.com/p-11073/Belarus_Venezuela/