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Venezuela Signs $120 Mln Contract for Russian Helicopters
March 10 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela, seeking to build up security on the Colombia border, signed a $120 million contract for 10 Russian helicopters, with deliveries slated to begin later this year.
Defense Minister General Jorge Garcia said during a televised signing ceremony that the helicopters will be used to police the border with the neighboring country.
``These are high-performance machines, which meet our needs,'' Garcia said. Venezuela's air force already has U.S., French and Austrian helicopters, he said.
Russian arms sales to Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, has been criticized by the U.S., which has claimed the armament could be funneled to guerrillas in neighboring Colombia.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=ay.jHSi6Xlqs&refer=latin_america