Narcissus from Caracas: Chávez Death Ends an Era in South America

REUTERS / Miraflores Palace

"I will remain as long as God and the people command me to," said Hugo Chávez in 2008. At the time, the Venezuelan president and left-wing nationalist was at the apex of his power. Fifty-four years old and in office for 10 years, he self-confidently and energetically planned for the next decade as Latin America's longest serving head of state.

ANZEIGE

At the time, it was unimaginable that this gifted orator and former officer would be gravely ill by the time the 2012 presidential elections arrived. A year prior to that vote, Chávez had undergone the first of what would become four operations to free him of cancer. In recent months, his public image had come to be dominated primarily by reports on his health and further surgical procedures -- a significant come-down for a man who had presented a thorny challenge to the political elite of South America and who had seen himself as a bulwark against the US.

Read More................. 

Cocaine’s Flow Is Unchecked in Venezuela

Meridith Kohut for The New York Times

An aircraft burned in a drug raid in Apure State. Afterward, traffickers appeared to have reclaimed the airstrip for drug flights. More Photos »

 LA MACANILLA, Venezuela — The Venezuelan government has trumpeted one major blow after another against drug traffickers, showing off barrels of liquid cocaine seized, drug planes recovered, cocaine labs raided and airstrips destroyed.
  But a visit this month to a remote region of Venezuela’s vast western plains, which a Colombian guerrilla group has turned into one of the world’s busiest transit hubs for the movement of cocaine to the United States, has shown that the government’s triumphant claims are vastly overstated.

Read More....................... 

Venezuela’s Chavez Eyes Russian Su-35 Fighters

Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Thursday he is interested in buying Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighter jets from Russia to enhance his country’s defense capabilities.
“I have already sent a statement to the government of Russia that we are ready to consider buying in the next few years Su-35 fighters to modernize and enhance our defense powers,” Venezuela’s national radio quoted Chavez as saying.
The president said that the issues of security, defense and the development of the country should be the priority for the government of Venezuela within the frames of the national independence provision.
“This independence, the well protected and guaranteed one, will give us a possibility to build new Venezuela, new Fatherland and to reach new horizons,” he added.

Read More................. 

Venezuela to Buy More Russian T-72 Tanks

T-72

Caracas and Moscow have agreed on the purchase of additional 100 T-72 main battle tanks by Venezuela as part of a $4-bln loan secured by the oil-rich Latin American country in 2011 to buy Russian weaponry, Russia’s Kommersant newspaper said on Wednesday.
Russia completed in March the delivery of 92 modernized T-72B1V MBTs, the Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems and other military equipment to Venezuela under a separate $2.2-bln loan secured by Chavez' government in 2010.
Venezuela is a leading importer of Russian arms. Between 2005 and 2007, Caracas signed $4 billion worth of arms deals with Russia to buy Sukhoi fighter jets, combat helicopters, and small arms.
Russian loans to Venezuela are secured by Russia’s participation in a number of joint oil projects with Caracas.
Russia's state-controlled oil giant Rosneft has recently gained access to the Carabobo 2 block for $1.2 billion paid upfront and a $1-bln loan to Venezuela's state company PDVSA.
Rosneft is also one of five Russian companies in a consortium working with PDVSA to develop the Junin Block 6 of the Orinoco belt.

Source :http://en.rian.ru

Venezuela launches licensed AK-103 production

Photo: EPA

Venezuela has started the licensed production of Russia’s AK-103 “Kalashnikov” assault rifle, President Hugo Chavez told reporters.

General Julio Prieto, the head of the state-owned arms manufacturer that obtained the license, said that 3,000 AK-103s had already been assembled.

Venezuela may produce 25,000 licensed AKs per year, he said.

Russia loses more than $2 billion annually due to the counterfeit production of Kalashnikov guns in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and America.

The world output of these guns is estimated by some sources at between 70 million and 105 million.

Source : Moscow Time

Chavez shows off first Venezuelan drone

Chavez on first Venezuelan drone- AFP

CARACAS: Venezuela has developed its own unarmed aerial drone with help from Iran, China and Russia, according to President Hugo Chavez, saying the drones had military and civilian uses.

It is “one of three aircraft that we have made here, and we will continue to manufacture them,” Chavez said on Wednesday during a meeting with defense chiefs.

“Russia, China, Iran and other allied countries” had contributed to the project, he added.

The drone has a range of 100 kilometers (60 miles), can reach an altitude of 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) according to General Julio Morales, head of the state-run Cavim arms manufacturer, which developed the aircraft.

They can stay aloft for up to 90 minutes and can transmit real-time video and images, and is currently being upgraded in order to carry out night flights, he added.

The three-by-four-meter drone was part of a system “exclusively for defense,” aimed at surveillance and the monitoring of pipelines, dams and other rural infrastructure, Morales said.

Another official said the drone was made from components manufactured in Venezuela and assembled by military engineers trained in Iran.

Cavim is currently developing factories to manufacture rifles, grenades, gunpowder and ammunition. Chavez hailed the recent development with Russian aid of a factory to make AK-103 assault rifles.

“We have the right (to manufacture weapons),” Chavez said. “We would not if we were a colony, but we are a free and independent country.”When completed, the factory is expected to produce 25,000 rifles and 70 million rounds of ammunition a year.

Chavez, who has been recovering from nearly a year of cancer treatment, plans to seek a new term in elections later this year.

Chavez, in power since 1999, has been a vocal opponent of what he refers to as US “imperialism” in Latin America, and has boasted of close ties with American foes like Iran and Cuba

Source :http://dawn.com