Russia, Venezuela sign package of oil deals

September 30th, 2009 Venezuela exploring uranium deposits with RussiaPORLAMAR, Venezuela — Venezuela's science and technology minister said his country is working with Russia to detect deposits of uranium but withdrew an earlier denial that the country was also working with Iran. Jesse Chacon originally denied the reports that Venezuela is receiving support from Iran to seek uranium, but clarified later Saturday that his comments were only in regard to Russia and that exploration efforts with Iran fall under the direction of Venezuela's Mining Ministry.

September 17th, 2009 CARACAS - Chinese and Russian companies have agreed to invest a combined $36 billion in oil projects in the Orinoco Belt, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said. The president said state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.

September 15th, 2009 CARACAS - President Hugo Chavez said a recent huge natural gas find off Venezuela's Caribbean coast underscores the need to bolster the Andean nation's defences against US "imperialism". Spain's Repsol YPF said last Friday that the Perla I well, discovered in partnership with Italy's Eni, could contain between 7 trillion and 8 trillion cubic feet of gas.

September 13th, 2009 Venezuela gets $2.2B in credit for Russian armsCARACAS, Venezuela — Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit for Venezuela to purchase weapons including armored vehicles and surface-to-air missiles, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday. Venezuela is buying more arms because it feels threatened by Colombia's decision to give U.S.

September 13th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuela and Russia have completed negotiations for joint production from one of the fields in the oil-rich Orinoco Belt, Venezuelan state-owned oil giant PDVSA said. The Junin 6 Block will have an estimated "base production level of between 400 and 450,000 barrels of extra-heavy crude," PDVSA said.

September 11th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to get rockets from RussiaCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has signed military agreements with Russia and is soon expecting the arrival of some "little rockets." Chavez says the rockets reach up to 186 miles (300 kilometers) and are strictly for defense purposes. Chavez returned Friday from a world tour including a visit to Russia, where he met with President Dmitry Medvedev.

September 9th, 2009 Chavez expected to discuss arms deals in MoscowMOSCOW — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is set to arrive in Russia on Wednesday on a visit expected to focus on energy issues and military cooperation. Russia has forged close ties with Venezuela as part of efforts to expand its global clout and counter U.S.

August 21st, 2009 Venezuela helps US seize cocaine-laden shipCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela says its collaboration with U.S. authorities led to the seizure of about a ton of cocaine aboard a ship in the Caribbean Sea.

August 18th, 2009 CARACAS - The purchase of Russian tanks will be among the several agreements to be signed between Moscow and Caracas during the visit of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in September, according to media reports. Local media reports quoted Chavez as saying Monday that the purchase of the tanks was part of a modernisation plan for the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.

July 3rd, 2009 MOSCOW - Moscow and Washington will sign deals expanding bilateral military ties and on transit of military supplies via Russia to the American troops in Afghanistan during President Barack Obama's visit to the Russian capital, an official said Friday. The signing of the pacts will reflect "the political decision on the resumption of full-scale military contacts between Russia and the United States", which were frozen after the war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia last year, Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko has said.

May 8th, 2009 EU seeking energy independence from RussiaPRAGUE — The European Union is seeking to reduce its energy dependence on Russia at a conference meant to lock in supply commitments from eight southern gas producing nations. The meeting is to sign a declaration that calls for linking the EU by pipelines to gas-rich nations on the Caspian Sea and beyond.

May 8th, 2009 Venezuela to pay Ternium $1.97 billion for SidorCARACAS, Venezuela — Ternium SA has agreed to sell its 59.7 percent share in steel maker Sidor to Venezuela for $1.97 billion. The subsidiary of the Argentine-Italian conglomerate Techint has been locked in negotiations over a payment plan with Venezuelan authorities since last year.

March 7th, 2009 MOSCOW - A Russian-Venezuelan agreement scrapping visa requirements entered into force Friday. The agreement will allow Russians and Venezuelans to visit each others' countries for up to 90 days without having to apply for visas.

February 28th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia will sign a deal next week allowing Spain to transit supplies for NATO operations in Afghanistan by rail through its southern territory, an aide for President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday. Medvedev will sign the transit agreement during an official visit to Madrid March 1-3, Interfax news agency quoted Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko as saying.

January 19th, 2009 MOSCOW - A friendship and cooperation agreement between Russia and the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia has come into force, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday. Sergei Lavrov said Moscow and Tskhinvali would soon sign an array of agreements on cooperation in the military sphere, border protection and trade.