Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday that his government was ready to receive a Russian military float and dismissed difficulties in negotiation with Russia on purchasing the equipment.
Chavez made the announcement at Sunday's TV and Radio program "Alo Preisdente." He added that the Russian float could arrive at the Guaira Port, north of Caracas, and Cabello Port, in the central coast of Venezuela.
Chavez said that his government would evaluate acquisition of submarines and new Russian aircraft to guard the Venezuelan territorial sea and aerial space.
Chavez said that his government was coordinating the acquisition of K-8 planes to train Venezuelan pilots.
This military equipment is due to the U.S. blockage on replacements supply.
"The U.S. is sabotaging. The Hercules planes of U.S. fabrication do not have replacements," Chavez said when talking about the difficulties that the pilots have to flight these aircraft.
When referring to the Russian weapons, Chavez said "we've got the Sukoi fighters and now we consider buying Russian submarines to patrol our waters," and he added that "we really need them here."
During the past years Venezuelan and Russia have signed agreements of 4 billion U.S. dollars for AK-47 automatic rifles and military helicopters.
(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)
