por Pravda.ru
Vladimir Putin
The tangible results of the visit of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Latin America were, in a word, massive, the first concrete step in laying the cornerstone of a new geopolitical order based on multilateral values, a New World Order which spells a clear message to the U.S.A.: either you are with us, or against us.
The much-heralded visit of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Venezuela this weekend was far more than a continuation of the excellent ties between the socially progressive Latin American growing giant of Hugo Chávez and the Russian Federation – Bolivia’s President Evo Morales was also present.
The scope of the bilateral agreements signed was massive and indicates that Moscow has huge potential in overtaking Washington as the main trading partner for this continent, where Russia is regarded with respect and the United States of America is considered by many as a pariah, in part due to its cruel and inhumane stance against Cuba and in part because of the history of its relations with its neighbors to the south.
Tremendous range of bilateral agreements spells new age of bilateral relations Russia-Latin America
The tremendous range of agreements signed primarily between Russia and Venezuela spells a clear message that Moscow is in this continent to stay: oil, defense, nuclear power, agriculture, education, fishing, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare.
Oil
As regards the petroleum industry, an agreement was signed last Friday which set up a joint stock company (PDVSA of Venezuela and a Russian consortium composed of Rosneft, Lukoil, TNK-BP, Gazprom and Surgutneftgaz) to operate the field June 6, while the option remains open to widen the bilateral cooperation to three other fields in the Orinoco strip.
The original prediction is a production of 40,000 b/d. Under the same agreement, the Ayacucho-3 and Junin-3 fields will be developed.
Defense
The United States of America’s self-imposed blockade of Venezuela damages Washington and those states which agree to pander to Washington’s dictates, namely Brazil, whose President Lula told Hugo Chávez that the Supertucano contract with Embraer was off, due to pressure from the U.S.A. As Vladimir Putin stated (causing Hugo Chávez to laugh) “It is good that the U.S.A. does not wish to sell”.
The last four Mi-17 helicopters have been delivered, completing the deal signed in 2006 for 38 aircraft, part of a deal which began in 2004, namely for 24 Sukhoi-30 fighters, 53 transport helicopters and 100,000 AK 103 guns.
(This article was first published in Pravda.ru).
