Maduro: Venezuelan-Russian technical military cooperation to develop successfully

Technical military cooperation between Venezuela and Russia will continue to develop successfully, President Nicolas Maduro said when visiting the guided-missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which called at the port of La Guaira for a business visit. "Our people know that in this world there is no respect for the weak and defenceless, for those who agree to kneeling and lowering their eyes every time when strong men ferociously glare at them. We shall develop cooperation with Russia in order to strengthen our Armed Forces and gain new knowledge," he said. When addressing the Russian navy men, Maduro stated that Presidents Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin had created a strategic alliance between Venezuela and Russia. "We want this alliance to be all-embracing so that our relations develop successfully both in the economic and military spheres. The arrival of Russian naval ships serves as a reaffirmation of the correctness of the road which Comandante Chavez and President Putin had defined," the Venezuelan President said. Maduro emphasized that people in Venezuela remember that "the Soviet Union paid a tremendous price in 28 million human lives for the victory over fascist Gemrany". "Please, convey fraternal greetings to all those who serve in the Russian Armed Forces and the words of gratitude fortht the feat of arms of their fathers and grandfathers," he said. Captain 1st Rank Sergei Tronev, commander of the guided missile cruiser Moskva, on behalf of the Russian navy men presented a replica of this combatant ship, a peakless cap with Guards ribbons, and a sailor's vest to Nicolas Maduro. A replica of Simon Bolivar's sword and a statuette representing the National Hero of Venezuela were the presents given by the Venezuelan President. The cruiser is being accompanied in the long-distance cvoyage by the large anti-submarine ship "Vice-Admiral Kulakov", the tanker "Ivan Bubnov", and the sea-going tugboat "Yevgeny Khorov". The Russian navy men will stay in Venezuela until August 29. The programme for their stay in this South American republic, provides for get-togethers with their Venezuelan counterparts, and a tour of the Revolution Museum where President Hugo Chavez is buried, and the National Pantheon where Simon Bolivar's remains are kept.