Caracas, Monday February 19 , 2007
Venezuela, Argentina tighten ties despite Washington
Argentine President Néstor Kirchner is scheduled to arrive in Venezuela late Tuesday to initial a number of agreements
EL UNIVERSAL
Argentine President Néstor Kirchner Tuesday is visiting Venezuela to execute several agreements aimed at deepening bilateral ties in key areas such as energy and food, despite Washington's uneasiness vis-à-vis Venezuelan ruler Hugo Chávez.
Kirchner is scheduled to arrive late Tuesday in Venezuela, where he is staying for 24 hours. His activities will be focused on projects related to the heavy-crude oil Orinoco belt. In this scenario, Venezuela and Argentina are to reinforce energy ties, as Argentine state oil firm Enarsa is to operate in the 55,000 km2 area with estimated reserves of 1.3 trillion barrels of extra-heavy crude oil, AFP reported.
Enarsa is joining works to certify Venezuelan state oil giant Pdvsa reserves which, according to Chávez, are the largest in the world.
Top priority in the bilateral energy agenda are continued Argentine purchases of Venezuelan gas oil and joint construction of the Great Southern Gas Pipeline (GSS).
Further, Kirchner and Chávez are scheduled to complete an agreement under which Venezuela is to provide financial aid to Argentine cooperative Sancor -Argentina's second largest dairy firm. Under this agreement Venezuelan State Economic and Social Development Bank (Bandes) is to disburse USD 135 million to afford Sancor liabilities and provide capital goods. The cooperative is expected to repay the loan by shipping powder milk to Venezuela. The agreement calls for installation of dairy plants and powder milk plants in Venezuela.
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http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/02/19/en_pol_art_19A836937.shtml(Opposition newspaper)