01 April 2010

VENEZUELA: UPDATE: Putin Visits Chavez, Promises Nuclear Help.

AP/MIAMI HERALD/  03 Abril DETAILED UPDATE/    Despite recent terrorist bombings at home, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made his first visit to Venezuela. In Caracas, Putin offered to help Chavez set up a space industry, including a satellite launch site and plan to construct a nuclear plant. He also discussed a joint venture to pump oil from the rich Orinoco Belt. Chavez has visited Russia 8 times and agreed to spend more than $4 billion in arms deals. “Chavez has already signed up for more weapons than he can buy, and Russian energy companies aren’t really interested in exploration and production in Venezuela,” said Oslo professor Pavel Baev. “It’s much more a political project.”