Venezuela, US clash over future envoy

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez

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December 19, 2010 (KATAKAMI / PRESSTV.IR) --- Tensions have flared up between the US and Venezuela over Washington's plan to send Larry Palmer as its new ambassador to Caracas.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has warned that Palmer will be detained and put on the next flight home if he tries to set foot in Venezuela, the Associated Press reported on Saturday.

"He went ahead and said whatever he felt like saying, disrespecting Venezuela," Chavez said in a televised speech. "How is he going to be ambassador? He disqualified himself."

He went on to express his disapproval of the choice by saying "Give Mr. Palmer a coffee from me, and then bye-bye. He cannot, he cannot enter the country."

The row over Palmer has simmered since August after he claimed that morale is low in Venezuela's military.

He also linked Chavez's government to leftist rebels in neighboring Colombian.

His comments came after Bogota accused Caracas of sheltering the leftist rebels on Venezuelan soil. Chavez denied the allegations and briefly cut diplomatic ties with Colombia over the row.

The US embassy in Caracas has been without an ambassador since Palmer's predecessor finished his term in July.

The latest dispute came a day after Venezuelan lawmakers voted to let Chavez bypass parliament and rule by decree for 18 months. (*)  

Chavez to Reject US Ambassador Nominee

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a meeting with United Socialist party members in Caracas, December 17, 2010. Venezuela's parliament gave President Chavez decree powers for 18 months on Friday, outraging opposition parties that accused him of turning South America's biggest oil producer into a dictatorship. The move consolidated the firebrand socialist leader's hold on power after nearly 12 years in office, and raised the prospect of a fresh wave of nationalizations as the former paratrooper seeks to entrench his self-styled "revolution." (Getty Images / REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/Handout )

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December 19, 2010 (KATAKAMI / VOA) --- Venezuela's president has vowed to reject the U.S. nominee for ambassador to the South American country.

Hugo Chavez said Saturday in a televised speech Larry Palmer will not be allowed to take up his post because the diplomat has been critical of Caracas.

Palmer upset the Chavez administration when he told a U.S. senator that morale was low in the Venezuelan military. Palmer also expressed concern about Colombian rebels finding refuge in Venezuela.

President Chavez says he has told Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro to detain Palmer if he tries to enter Venezuela.

The U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Palmer's appointment soon.

On Friday, Venezuelan lawmakers voted to allow Mr. Chavez to bypass parliament and rule by decree for 18 months. That move was denounced by opposition rivals and the U.S. government.  (*)

Russia lends Venezuela $4 bln to buy weaponry — Chavez

 

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November 28, 2010. (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Moscow has recently loaned Venezuela $4 billion to buy Russian military hardware, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said.

Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate 90 years of Venezuela's Air Force on Saturday, Chavez said the sides reached the loan agreement during his visit to Russia in October although no official statement was made at the time of the visit.

"We were in Russia not long ago and the Russian government gave us a $4-billion credit to help us with [building up] our defense capability," the president said.

Moscow has already provided Caracas with several loans to buy Russian-made weaponry, including a recent $2.2-mln loan on the purchase of 92 T-72M1M tanks, the Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems and other military equipment.

Russia has also exported 24 Su-30MK2 Flanker aircraft, over 40 Mi-17 Hip transport helicopters and 10 Mi-35 Hind-E gunships as well as three Mi-26T Halo heavy transport helicopters to Venezuela.

Chavez did not specify the types of weaponry Venezuela was going to buy from Russia in the future.

He justified big spending on arms by his country's need to defend the nation from potential external threats.

"We are simply doing the task of defending the fatherland from the threat of [U.S.] empire and its allies," Chavez said.  (*)



MEXICO, November 28

Russia agrees to build nuclear plant in Venezuela

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez speak during a signing ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, on October 15, 2010. Moscow is the first stop for Chavez on a major international tour aimed at strengthening trade ties with several countries in eastern Europe and the Middle East, including Iran and Libya. (Photo : NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)

October 16, 2010 (KATAKAMI / DDINEWS.GOV.IN) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reached a deal with Russia on Friday to build the South American country’s first nuclear plant, as questions arose why a nation rich in oil and gas would feel the need to venture into atomic energy. 

The two nations also signed other energy agreements. 

Russia has cultivated close ties with Chavez’s government to expand its global clout and counter US influence in Latin America.

Russia plans to build two 1,200 megawatt nuclear reactors at the Venezuelan plant. 

The cost of Friday’s nuclear deal wasn’t immediately announced.

The deal is likely to raise concern in President Barack Obama’s administration but continues a pattern of Russia pressing to export its nuclear expertise. 

It’s talking with Indian officials about building a dozen of nuclear reactors there and also wants to build a nuclear reactor in the Czech Republic.

Russia has just completed Iran’s first nuclear power plant and recently reached new deals to build nuclear reactors in China and Turkey.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sought to pre-empt questions about why Venezuela would need nuclear power by saying the deal would help Caracas reduce its dependence on global market fluctuations.
“I don’t know who will shudder at this,” Medvedev said at a news conference after the signing. 

“The president (of Venezuela) said there will be nations that will have different emotions about that, but I would like to emphasise that our intentions are absolutely pure and open: We want our partner Venezuela to have a full range of energy possibilities.”

Venezuela relies on hydroelectric power for most of its electricity, and a severe drought last year and in early 2010 pushed the water level at country’s largest hydroelectric dam to perilous lows. 

The lower levels, combined with a lack of adequate upgrades to the power grid, prompted rationing measures for a time, including rolling blackouts.

Chavez says nuclear power is part of his government’s plans for diversifying its energy sources.

Photostream : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev meets Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) welcomes Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez as they meet at the Gorki presidential residence outside Moscow October 14, 2010. (REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Dmitry Astakhov)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, greets Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez during their meeting in the Gorki residence outside Moscow, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service,pool)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, right, seen during their meeting in the Gorki residence outside Moscow, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service,pool)

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) listens to his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez as they meet at the Gorki presidential residence outside Moscow October 14, 2010. (REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Dmitry Astak)