BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/01/2008

Chavez to visit Russia and Belarus in February or March

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez late February or early in March is to visit Russia and Belarus again, sources with the Venezuelan Embassy to Moscow told Efe on Wednesday.

"We are expecting his visit, but the exact dates are still unknown," said a member of the diplomatic mission in the Russian capital.

Meanwhile, Russian sources succinctly said that Russian Head of State Vladimir Putin was scheduled to welcome Chavez in Moscow before leaving the Kremlin following the Russian presidential vote next March 2.

Further, Venezuelan Charge d'Affairs in Belarus, Americo Dias Nunez Wednesday told reporters that Chavez in February or March would visit again Moscow and Minsk, where he was last June.

Chavez's visits last year focused on political, economic, military and technical cooperation with Russia and Belarus, two countries that are tightening their links with the government of Caracas, Efe reported.

Source:

http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/30/en_pol_art_chavez-to-visit-russ_30A1339239.shtml