Russia, Venezuela sign nuclear deal

MOSCOW - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Russian President Dmitry A. Medvedev on Friday announced a deal calling for Russia to build the Latin American country's first nuclear power plant, with both leaders emphasizing the plan involves purely peaceful energy uses.

Medvedev and Chavez, who was on his ninth visit to Russia in eight years, oversaw the signing by their ministers of an agreement for the nuclear power plant as well as agreements for Russia to invest $1.6 billion in Venezuela's oil industry and smaller deals in areas such as natural gas and auto exports.

"I don't know who will shudder now," Medvedev said at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. "President [Chavez] said that there will be states which will have different emotions, but I would like to specifically note that our intentions are absolutely pure and open."

Chavez, a socialist leader and staunch critic of U.S. foreign policies, praised the agreements with Russia and extended special thanks to Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, who was not present, and Medvedev, referring to them as "sons of the Soviet Union." Venezuela wants to reduce its reliance on gas and oil energy, Chavez said.

"We are not afraid to come to Moscow and come to the Kremlin and sign an agreement to build a nuclear power plant for peaceful purposes," he said.

Medvedev did not specify how much the nuclear project would cost or when it would start, saying officials first "need to conduct all necessary preliminary research, to evaluate the structure and possibilities."

Venezuela's leader produced a red bag with chocolates, banana jam, and cacao powder and presented the gift to Medvedev, who accepted it with a smile.

The two countries have made previous deals, including for weapons. "In the sphere of military-technical cooperation we are not slowing down, we are continuing our work," said Medvedev, although no new weapons deals were signed Friday.

During the comments by the two leaders, Medvedev made what observers considered a veiled reference to the United States.

"Both Russia and Venezuela come out for forming a modern and fair world order, such a world order in which our future doesn't depend on the will and desire of some other country, on its prosperity and mood," Medvedev said.