Chavez attacks US, meets Putin in Moscow
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| Published on Friday, June 29, 2007 |
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By Sebastian Smith
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP): Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez railed against the United States at the start of a visit to Russia on Thursday and called on Moscow to help lead a global revolution against Washington.
Accusing the United States of "imposing tyranny," he said a "revolution" was under way against US global power and that Russia was a key player.
"They don't want Russia to keep rising but Russia has risen again as a centre of power and we, the people of the world, need Russia, and China, to become stronger every day," Chavez said at a colourful ceremony opening a Latin American cultural centre in Moscow.
"History is moving," he said, "and it's moving at a gallop."
Later, Chavez went for dinner outside Moscow with President Vladimir Putin, who has made a priority of attacking what he calls Washington's attempt to dominate the world and who welcomed Chavez, reminding him that "talks on economic affairs and military technical ties" were on the agenda.
"Thank you, Mr President, thank you, brother!" Chavez exclaimed in response, saying that "since we met in 2001, so much in the world has changed -- and changed in favour of our ideas and to the benefit of our peoples."
Chavez will also attend a horse race in southern Russia with Putin before continuing his tour with visits to Belarus and Iran, two countries that Washington considers to be run by outlaw regimes.
The warm welcome here for Chavez was likely to irk Washington just days before Putin flies to the United States for key talks with President George W. Bush on tensions over US missile defence plans.
Chavez, seen as an undemocratic nationalist by the United States, lauded Putin's "brave resistance" against the missile defence sites planned to be deployed in the Czech Republic and Poland.
However, the Kremlin showed signs of wanting to tone down somewhat the Chavez visit, analysts said, pointing to a decision by the pro-Putin parliament not to invite him to make a formal address to deputies.
At the new Latin American cultural centre, the flamboyant Venezuelan leader said it was essential to resist US cultural domination, which he likened to an "imperial bombardment."
Chavez brought a troupe of Venezuelan dancers and singers on his visit, but also a large delegation of uniformed military officers.
Underlining his country's defence ties with Russia, Chavez warned Washington not to consider the use of force against Venezuela, saying: "We are ready to die defending the sacred sovereignty of our country."
He said that weapons purchases were not at the top of his agenda on his trip. However, last year Venezuela bought three billion dollars (2.2 billion euros) worth of helicopter gunships, fighter planes and rifles from Russia.
Ahead of his trip Chavez suggested he might look at purchases of submarines.
"In this sense Russia and Venezuela have an alliance at the very highest level," he said Thursday.
Chavez also welcomed Russian investment in his country's booming energy sector and was due to hold talks with the chairman of oil giant Lukoil, Russian media reported.
He said US companies unwilling to stick by Venezuela's move toward nationalisation of oil resources should leave. "The door is open," he said.
On Tuesday, two US companies, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, pulled out of exploration ventures.
Although Chavez is branded a dangerous populist by the United States, he heard nothing but praise from Russian politicians as his visit got under way.
"He's the best president on the planet... There's nothing wrong with Russia being friends with leaders who are anti-American because the whole world is anti-American," Russian nationalist member of parliament Vladimir Zhirinovsky told journalists.
Powerful Moscow Mayor Yury Luzkhkov praised Chavez for showing that "the world is multipolar and that every people can and should live its life."
Kommersant newspaper reported that Putin is to seek Chavez's support for a Russian plan to host next year's meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, part of efforts to create a gas exporters' cartel similar to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The two sides are also likely to discuss plans for Russian gas giant Gazprom and oil giant Lukoil to develop projects in Venezuela, including a project to build a gas pipeline linking Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, Kommersant said.
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