Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to visit Russia

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez plans to visit Russia to further strengthen growing bilateral ties between the two countries.

''President Chavez has approached the Russian leadership asking to visit Moscow at the end of August or the beginning of September.

We are awaiting a reply from the Russian side. President Chavez likes visiting Russia,'' Venezuelan ambassador to Moscow Alexis Navarro Rochas told Interfax news agency today.

Mr Chavez’s visit assumes significance in the backdrop of Venezuela’s continuously worsening relations with the United States, following Washington's announcement of ban on sale of arms to the South American country on May 15 and accusing it of an intelligence relationship with Cuba and Iran.

Mr Chavez accused the United States of breaching an agreement to supply parts for Venezuela's F-16s.

''We are considering procurement of Russia's Su-35 fighter aircraft to replace F-16s, after the United States banned weapons exports to Venezuela,'' Venezuela's General Staff Chief General Alberto Muller Rojas said, reacting the US move.

Gen Rojas said he had proposed to President Chavez that Venezuela sell its 21 F-16s to a third party or share it with Cuba as a gift.

He added that Iran or Chile could be potential customers of the planes, as both countries had F-16s and spare parts in inventory.

However, the US said last Monday it would not allow Venezuela to sell the planes to Iran.

The US and Venezuela signed a contract on the F-16s in 1982, under which the latter does not have the right to re-sell the fighters.

Gen Rojas said the US had broken the agreement unilaterally, so Venezuela considered itself free not to comply with its obligations.

In May, 2005, Russia signed an agreement with Venezuela to supply 100,000 AK-103 submachine guns worth 54 million dollars.