Moscow and Chávez agree nuclear pact

Hugo Chavez

October 15 2010  -President Hugo Chávez has announced a deal for Russia to build a nuclear power station in Venezuela, as well as making further arms purchases and establishing a binational bank.

“Venezuela is on its way to getting nuclear power. I hardly need to say so, but I’ll say it anyway: for peaceful purposes, of course,” said Mr Chávez on Friday during his ninth visit to Moscow. “They’ll say that we are going to build atomic bombs. No we are not . . . Nothing is going to stop us, we are free, sovereign and independent.”

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, said: “Our intentions are absolutely pure and open: we want our partner Venezuela to have a full range of energy possibilities.” More >>>

Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, said that Russia declined to be specific about the time- frame for the construction of the power station. “Maybe in 10 years, maybe earlier,” he said. More >>>