Russia Could Help Venezuela Make Kalashnikovs, AK-103s In Venezuela

[Ryan Ruck]

Russia Could Help Venezuela Make Kalashnikovs, AK-103s In Venezuela

Russian Rosoboronexport Company director, Sergei Chemezov has confirmed that Venezuela plans to make Kalashnikovs (AK-103) setting off alarm bells in Washington.

Last month Rosoboronexport and the Venezuelan government signed a contract for Russia to deliver 1000,000 Kalashnikovs.

The first batch of 28,000 rifles is expected to arrive in Venezuela this month and the second early in January 2006.

Chemezov says the contract includes manuals, calibrators, bayonets and charges as well as simulator programs for training.

A certain amount of technology transference is involved and training of Venezuelan experts. The AK-103s are said to the fourth generation caliber 7.62mm x 39mm.

A Russian commission will assess the Venezuelan Company of Military Industries (Cavim) installations to see if it can start making the guns.

The USA has made its displeasure over the purchase quite clear to Moscow, arguing that they will probably find their way to insurgents throughout South America, especially Bolivia and Ecuador.

Washington has extended its Plan Colombia II called Plan Andino till 2012 to tackle Venezuela and the two above mentioned countries.

[Ryan Ruck]

Russian Guns To Arrive Soon In Venezuela

CARACAS - Venezuela will receive the first of 100,000 Russian-made assault rifles starting next month in a deal struck earlier this year.

Russia will deliver 30,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and three helicopters to Venezuela by year's end, Russian and Venezuelan officials said during talks Thursday.

The first 15,000 rifles will arrive Dec. 15, with an identical shipment to follow on Dec. 30, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said.

They will be the first weapons under a deal for 100,000 Russian-made Kalashnikov AK-103 and AK-104 rifles signed in May by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's government. The remaining 70,000 rifles will arrive in March, Zhukov said.

President Bush has expressed concern that the guns could fall into the hands of other groups, such as leftist Colombian rebels, and become a destabilizing force in South America.

An Internal Affair

But Venezuelan officials call that prospect ridiculous and say the rifles will be used to replace outdated FAL rifles used by the Venezuelan military. They have urged the U.S. government not to meddle in Venezuela's internal affairs.

Venezuelan Vice President José Vicente Rangel said the military agreements ''are absolutely normal'' and are a sovereign matter of Venezuela.

Three helicopters bought from Russia will arrive by the end of the year, Rangel said.

Russia agreed to sell Venezuela's military 10 helicopters in March, including Mi-17s, Mi-35s and one Mi-26T, for $120 million. A Venezuelan general announced a deal for five additional Mi-17 helicopters in June for $81 million.

New Partnership?

Both Rangel and Zhukov said they expect trade to increase dramatically in the coming years between the two nations as they increase cooperation and trade in areas from the oil industry to mining.

Venezuela is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, and has sought foreign firms' involvement in various oil projects.

Trade between Russia and Venezuela neared $65.5 million in the past 10 months, and in the future could increase fivefold, Rangel said.

The Venezuelan vice president extended a formal invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit the South American country, saying the two governments have ''excellent relations.'' Chávez visited Moscow last year.

In the oil industry, Venezuela is teaming up with Russian oil firm Lukoil to calculate heavy oil reserves in the east of the country, and state-run Russian energy firm Gazprom recently won two natural gas licenses for zones off Venezuela's western coast.

''We're going to strengthen ties in oil and gas,'' Zhukov said. He also said Russia planned to start assembling buses, tractors, generators and other equipment in Venezuela.