Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, left, bends to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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Hugo Chavez Arrives in Russia
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, who arrives in Moscow tonight, is strongly expected to make big contracts for buying new weapons of Russia’s make.
According to the analysts, Venezuela is studying chances of buying in Russia up to ten diesel submarines of Project 636, which are equipped with missiles armament, and TOR-M1 missile defense systems.
”More likely than not, they will buy five submarines of Project 636 with missile armament that will be a much more weighty argument than the submarines with conventional weaponry. But Venezuela may buy nine submarines overall,” said Konstantin Makienko, an expert at Russia’s Center of Technology Strategy Analysis, RIA Novosti reported.
Moreover, similar to the previous year, Moscow and Caracas will probably seal a comprehensive contract providing for supplies of TOR-M1 missile defense systems in addition to the submarines. Chavez also intends to acquire coastal missile defense and air defense systems, Makienko made clear.
The respective contract is being actively elaborated, the expert pointed out referring to sources with industrial and defense complex.
Chavez arrives in Moscow late at night, so the official part of the visit will begin only on Thursday. Venezuela’s president will spend two days in Moscow and visit Rostov-on-Don Saturday.
www.kommersant.com
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