22:0428/08/2009

BUENOS AIRES, August 28 (RIA Novosti) -

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told a regional summit on Friday that there would be no Russian military bases on his country's territory.

The 12 leaders of countries that make up the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) convened for an emergency summit in the Argentine resort city of Bariloche to discuss the scheduled deployment of U.S. troops at seven military bases in Colombia.

"The U.S. blocks our imports of spare parts for military equipment. That's why we have asked Moscow and Beijing for help. But Venezuela has not and will not have either Russian or Chinese military bases on its territory," Chavez said.

The Venezuelan leader said the deployment of a US military contingent in Colombia could be the first step to an invasion of his country.

Argentine President Alvaro Uribe said the deal, which has yet to be signed, concerns "practical aid" in measures against drug trafficking and domestic insurgents, primarily the leftist guerilla movement the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Colombia is the only country on the continent where a powerful guerilla group - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) - controls a large portion of territory. In the past, it controlled nearly two-thirds of Colombia, but its influence has dwindled by half. Despite its rhetoric, the organization has nothing in common with Che Guevara or Marxism, and is mainly involved in drug trafficking and kidnapping.

Colombia earlier accused Venezuela of supplying arms to the group. Chavez dismissed the claims stating the weapons in question had been stolen by FARC over 10 years ago from Venezuela.

Relations between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have been tense since Colombian troops attacked a FARC camp in Ecuador last year. As many as 24 guerrillas, including a senior FARC commander, were killed in the raid.

Hugo Chavez says Venezuela ready for war with Colombia

16:5809/03/2009 MEXICO CITY,

March 9 (RIA Novosti) -

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said the country's armed forces are ready for a war with Colombia should Bogota provoke it.

"In case of a provocation on the part of Colombia's armed forces or infringements on Venezuela's sovereignty, I will give an order to strike with Su aircraft and tanks. I will not let anyone disrespect Venezuela and its sovereignty," Chavez said Sunday on his weekly TV show, "Hello, President."

Chavez said this in response to Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos's recent statements, which said that Colombia's military will keep killing rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on the territory of other states.

Bilateral relations sharply aggravated after Colombia's military bombarded a camp of Colombian rebels in Ecuador in March 2008, killing FARC leader Raul Reyes as well as another 16 rebels.

In response, Chavez ordered the deployment of several thousand soldiers and tanks toward the border with Colombia. Chavez characterized Colombia's actions as violating Ecuador's sovereignty, and called Colombian President Alvaro Uribe "a criminal."

This week, Colombia's National Radio said citing a high-ranking intelligence source that nine people from the FARC General Staff hide in Venezuela and another two in Ecuador. The top management of the staff includes 31 people.

FARC is a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group established in 1960s. It is considered a terrorist organization by the Colombian government, the U.S. and the EU. The group's revenues are believed to be partly obtained from drug trafficking and kidnapping.