Venezuelan Military Delegation Pays Official Visit to the Russian Federation
The Venezuelan military delegation, headed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Army Aviation Brigadier-General Victor Sanches Croez, arrived in Moscow on December 14, 2005 with the official visit to the Russian Federation.

According to the programme, the Venezuelan delegation is supposed to visit the 344th Centre for Tactical Employment and Conversion Training of the Army Aviation Pilots, Torzhok (Tver Region). Venezuelan high-ranking officials will attend the Graduation Ceremony of the three ‘maiden’ crews of Venezuelan pilots, who had completed their training to operate the Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopters.

The Venezuelan military also plan to take part in the factory acceptance of three units of the Mi-17V-5 helicopters. The procedure is currently underway at the Kazan Helicopter Plant.

The contract on the delivery of ten helicopters (six Mi-17V-5, three Mi-35M and one Mi-26T), and on the training of Venezuelan specialists was signed between the Rosoboronexport State Corporation and Venezuela on March 10, 2005.

The delegation will be accompanied by H.E. the Ambassador of Venezuela in the Russian Federation Alexis Navarro Rojas, Venezuelan Military Attaché in Russia Colonel Jose Fleming Salgado. The representatives of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation and senior officers of the Rosoboronexport State Corporation will also participate in the forthcoming events.

The Venezuelan officials are due to stay in Russia till December 22.