BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

26/03/2008

Belarus To Set Up Air Defense For Venezuela

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

MINSK - Belarus will build an air defense system for Venezuela over the next six years, the deputy chief of the Belarusian general staff said March 25, according to the Interfax news agency.

"It is expected that over the next six years we will be able to supply Venezuela with an air defense system, complete with training experts and preparation of administrative staff," Gen. Pyotr Tikhonovsky said.

"This will help us pursue our other interests in Venezuela too," the military official added.

Venezuela currently has no integrated air defense network, only separate anti-aircraft units and aircraft, he said.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, a fierce foe of U.S. President George W. Bush, has made a priority of modernizing and expanding his oil-rich country's armed forces.

He has already bought significant numbers of aircraft and small arms from Russia, and has pledged solidarity with Belarus.

Western powers criticize the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for imprisoning opposition leaders, preventing criticism in the state-controlled media and imposing severe restrictions on rallies.

The United States, which has dubbed Belarus "Europe's last dictatorship" recently imposed economic sanctions in protest at the country's human rights record.

Source:

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3445269&c=EUR&s=AIR

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