“Colombia seeks Russian arms to match Venezuela”

Santos will use his 10-day visit, the first by a Colombian of his rank, to try to convince Russia to curtail arms shipments to President Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela, which Colombia accuses of arming FARC rebels, the Moscow-based newspaper said, citing an interview with the vice president.Venezuela in the last three years has bought Russian fighter jets, attack helicopters and air defense systems, as well as 100,000 machine guns, some of which may have gone to the rebels, Kommersant said. Colombia is interested in acquiring fighter jets, transport helicopters, armored vehicles, air-traffic control systems and night-vision equipment, the newspaper said.Colombia’s ambassador in Moscow, Diego José Tobon Echeverri, denies Santos will ask to reduce arms sales to Venezuela and states the Colombian government has been buying weapons from Russia for a long time. Santos will only be in Russia to strengthen commercial ties and promote investments between the two countries, teh ambassador says.