President Chavez: Iran Helped Venezuela Make Drone

Tehran, June 16, IRNA – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that his country made its first ever drone with the help of the Islamic Republic of Iran and with the aim of strengthening the Latin American country’s defense capabilities. The unmanned drone was flown Thursday morning in Venezuela in the presence of Chavez at the airbase in the country's central Maraca city and the photos of the aircraft were broadcast on their state television. Head of Venezuela’s Military Industries Company General Julio Morales said that the reconnaissance drone is the second best in South America and it is used for national defense, reconnaissance missions and patrolling forests, roads and oil and gas transfer lines. Chavez, who spoke at a ceremony broadcast live from Venezuela’s state-run television, emphasized that building the drone does not mean that Venezuela wants to attack any country. However, the Venezuelan president said that building the drone is intended for defending the country and converting Venezuela into a powerful regional country./end