Venezuela mulls buying warplanes from Russia

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/11/content_4037030.htm

Venezuela mulls buying warplanes from Russia

CARACAS, Jan. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuela is considering buying Russian fighter planes to replace the ageing F-16s it bought from the United States, President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a military event in Caracas, Chavez said that he had sent a delegation to Moscow, the Russian capital, to discuss the issue.

Washington "is refusing to do major refurbishment and delaying spare parts" for the F-16s, which were bought under the 1979-1984 Christian Democrat government of Luis Herrera Campins, Chavez said.

Venezuela bought 24 Fighting Falcon F-16 aircraft, two of which have been lost in accidents.

"If we have to substitute the fleet of F-16s with a modern fleet of MiGs, we will do it, nothing is going to stop us, " said Chavez.

Chavez also accused the United States of blocking Venezuela's acquisition of Super Tucano military planes from Brazil because the planes are built with U.S. technologies.

The United States was trying to keep Venezuela dependent by doing so, he said.

"We will wait for some time to see if Brazil can resolve this problem," Chavez said.