[Iran Press TV Latest] Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has received Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the presidential palace in Caracas. Putin is in Venezuela as Moscow is actively seeking closer ties with South America. The two leaders discussed further military cooperation among other things.
Venezuela plans to secure the purchase of 90 "T-72" class tanks.
The two sides have also discussed further cooperation in the energy sector and granting Caracas a financial credit worth as much as over two billion dollars.
Chavez reiterated that Russia will help Venezuela develop nuclear energy -- a plan he has mentioned previously that has yet to take shape.
"We aren't going to make an atomic bomb, but we are going to develop atomic energy with peaceful aims," he said. Chavez, whose country is a major oil exporter and OPEC member, says "we have to prepare ourselves for the post-oil era."
Chavez and Putin plan to sign a 20-billion dollar agreement which allows Russia to tap the Orinoco heavy oil belt. The oil reserves are calculated to contain 35 billion barrels. |