BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/12/2007

Chavez Vows to Secure Oil Flow to Belarus

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez promised to supply the oil needs of Belarus for years, The Associated Press reported. Alexander Lukashenko went to Venezuela on a two-day visit.

``The oil your nation needs ... is here, as much as you need for 100 years, 200 years,'' Chavez said during a ceremony at Guara Este oil field in eastern Venezuela, promising to jointly produce 50,000 bbl a day in a few years and direct this oil to Belarus.

Hugo Chavez also refuted Western accusations that Belarus president was a dictator. ``The international media dictatorship ... calls him 'Europe's last dictator,' and me the last dictator of Latin America. Here we are, the last dictators,'' Chavez said as quoted by AP. ``They demonize us ... (because) we're leading a process of liberating our nations, uniting our nations.''

On December 7, Venezuela's state-run Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and Belarus' Belorusneft inked an agreement to set up a venture for exploiting oil and gas fields. PDVSA will own 60 percent in the company and Belorusneft will have 40 percent. This agreement enables the Belarus' company to work in Venezuela.

In addition to creating an oil and gas venture, the parties also entered into the military cooperation treaty. Chavez wants to buy from Belarus a missile defense system equipped with a radar and antiaircraft missiles.

What's more, Caracas and Minsk agreed that Belarus experts will take part in building 5,000 houses in Venezuela and render assistance in mining, educational and other fields.

Source:

http://www.kommersant.com/p-11745/Belarus_Venezuela/