Venezuela, Belarus expanding trade-economic cooperation.

. CARACAS, December 24 (Itar-Tass) - Trade-economic relations of
Venezuela with Belarus have "acquired strategic importance in various
spheres of bilateral cooperation," Venezuelan Vice President Ramon
Carrizales said at an extraordinary meeting of the Venezuela-Belarus
high-level intergovernmental commission that opened here on Wednesday.
Carrizales noted that the two countries are further developing
mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy, industry, agro-industry
housing construction, science and technology and in the military-technical
sphere. He pointed to the joint projects for the construction in Venezuela
of "plants for the production of Belarusian tractors and trucks with the
transfer of modern technologies" to the Venezuelan side, as well as joint
oil recovery in the Orinoco River basin. Venezuelan Energy and Petroleum
Minister Rafael Ramirez said that the Venezuelan-Belarusian JV will invest
8 billion US dollars within 25 years in the development of the Junin-1
block where it is planned to produce 200 thousand barrels of oil a day.
Co-chairman of the Belarusian part of the intergovernmental
commission, Belarusian president's special aide Viktor Sheiman said that
"cooperation of the two countries at the top level serves a reliable basis
for the development of relations in all spheres." He noted that Belarus
and Venezuela "have approached the fulfilment of major projects and
contracts" in the oil and natural gas sphere, machine building, civil
construction, food supplies, agriculture and other spheres.
In 2008 the trade between Belarus and Venezuela increased by 298% from
2007 and totalled $173,3 million. The growth was due to an increase in
export. Belarusian export surged by more than 305% to $173.1 million. The
import amounted to $147,000 (down six times). Belarus had a surplus of
more than $172 million, the Belarusian Belta news agency reported earlier.
In January-April 2009, Belarusian export to Venezuela doubled over the
same period 2008. Import was virtually non-existent.
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.RF-Venezuela oil JV to start work in first half of 2010-minister.

CARACAS, December 24 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian-Venezuelan oil
production JV will be finally registered and will launch operations in the
first half of 2010, Venezuelan Energy and Petroleum Minister Rafael
Ramirez told Itar-Tass in an interview on Wednesday. He expressed
satisfaction with the progressive nature of cooperation with Russia in the
oil and natural gas sphere.
Ramirez recalled that in late November the National Assembly
(parliament) of Venezuela approved a memorandum signed in Moscow on the
establishment of a JV by the Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation and Russian
National Oil Consortium that comprises Gazpromneft, Rosneft, Lukoil
Overseas, TNK-BP and Surgutneftegaz. This document with the force of law
gives "a green light" to the completion of the process of JV registration
and beginning of operations on the Junin-6 block of the Orinoco River oil
belt, Ramirez noted.
The long-term major project for the development of the Junin-6 oil
block with an area of 447.7 square kilometres in which it is planned to
invest over 20 billion US dollars envisages the recovery of 460 thousand
barrels of heavy and super heavy oil daily. It includes the creation of
the infrastructure, as well as operations for the complex development of
territories of the Orinoco oil belt.
The Russian consortium will take part in an international tender for
the development of seven Carabobo blocks that will be held in 2010, the
minister said. In all, according to preliminary estimates, the Orinoco
River basin contains 235 billion barrels of heavy and super heavy oil.
After the international certification of all blocks of this field is
completed, Venezuela's proven and recoverable oil reserves will account
for 314 billion barrels. The country may take the first place in the world
in this regard.
Venezuela remains as one of Russia's most important trading and
military allies in Latin America (after Brazil), making a strong bond in
the bilateral relations between the two nations. The Soviet Union had
established diplomatic relations with Venezuela on March 3, 1945 (severed
on June 13, 1952, and then restored on April 16, 1970).
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.One-third of voters take part in Azerbaijan municipal elections.

BAKU, December 24 (Itar-Tass) - A total of 31.86 percent of voters or
about 1.5 million people have taken part in municipal elections held in
Azerbaijan on Wednesday, chairman of the country's Central Election
Commission (CEC) Mazakhir Panakhov said at a press conference here on
Thursday.
According to him, the CEC has already received the primary results of
the elections from one-third of 4,813 polling stations and the vote
counting continues. The preliminary results of the voting will be made
public no later than December 29, the CEC head noted. The official results
will be announced in the middle of January 2010.
"Voting at the majority of polling stations was held in accordance
with the country's legislation. There have been no data of serious
violations that can affect the results of the elections," Panakhov said.
He also stressed that up to 50 thousand observers were monitoring the
elections, including over 50 - international.
About 31 thousand candidates are vying for 15,682 seats in 1,718 local
self-government bodies.
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