BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/03/2007

Venezuela, Belarus evaluate military cooperation

A delegation of the Belarusian Government met Thursday in Caracas-based military base Fuerte Tiuna, with the Venezuelan Minister of Defense

General in Chief Raul Isaias Baduel and the President of the Venezuelan Military Industry Company (Cavim), Major General Gustavo Ochoa, in order to assess the scope of the bilateral military cooperation agreement both countries initialed in July 2006.

Military sources said Venezuela is interested in purchasing an anti-aircraft defense system manufactured by the European country. However, the operation would be dependent both on the equipment artillery features compared to others and on the terms of the negotiation. Further, the Ministry of Defense's interest in "overhauling" the Belgium-made portable missile system Mistral the Venezuelan Armed Force already owns is prevailing.

Earlier this year, according to Efe, Russian military industry sources said the Venezuelan Government "showed great interest in anti-aircraft Russian defense systems," and was pondering the possibility to purchase the same equipment Iran bought from Russia, Tor-M1.

The Venezuela-Belarus accord was endorsed March 21st by the National Assembly. The agreement provides for "production, updating, servicing, repair, purchase and sale of supplies and techniques for aviation, anti-aircraft equipment and land troops," as well as joint design of new military techniques and weaponry, radio and electronic devices.

Source:

http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/03/23/en_eco_art_venezuela,-belarus-e_23A847933.shtml