United States formally prohibits arms sale to Venezuela

United States formally prohibits arms sale to Venezuela
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By h.b. - Jan 13, 2006 - 8:14 AM

The United States ambassador to Spain, Eduardo Aguirre - Photo EFE

The United States ambassador, Eduardo Aguirre informed Spain's Foreign Minister of the decision

The United States government has formally prohibited Spain from selling 12 military planes and eight frigates to Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, because they contain North American technology. The United States Ambassador to Spain, Eduardo Aguirre, met yesterday with the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, to inform him of the decision. Following the meeting Aguirre also spoke by phone with the Defence Minister, José Bono, and also with the company building the planes, CASA.
Washington considers that the sale could de-stabilise the region.

The Spanish Ministry for Defence has indicated that the sale will still go ahead however, despite the United States action, and they intend to substitute the US technology with that from Italy, France or Great Britain.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry has said that it considers the United States action has been taken on a purely commercial basis.

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