Russia rebuffs U.S. call to rethink $1bln Venezuela arms deal

[TomInTib]

Weren't they told to lay off by The Greatest Secretary of State in US History?

RYAZAN REGION, July 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's defense minister ruled out Wednesday reconsidering a $1 billion contracts on supplies of military planes and helicopters to Venezuela.

Tom Casey, a deputy spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said Tuesday that President George Bush's administration wanted Russia to review the deals. He said the weapons purchases Venezuela planned exceeded the country's demands and did not contribute to regional stability.

But Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister of Russia, said, "Reviewing the contract is absolutely out of the question. In my opinion, the 24 planes and the number of helicopters recorded in the contract are not excessive for the defense of a small country such as Venezuela."

"We will honor the contract," Ivanov said, adding that Venezuela had no restrictions on arms supplies.

more:
http://en.rian.ru/world/20060726/51864682.html

[Vidar]

1. Good for Russia.

[Moderator]

2. duplicate

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