Venezuela Recognizes Georgia Separatists

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gave Moscow a boost on Thursday by recognizing the independence of two Russian-supported Georgian separatist regions, and President Dmitry Medvedev bolstered Chavez with a promise to sell him whatever weapons he wants.

The statements at a meeting in Medvedev's residence just outside Moscow underlined the countries' growing closeness, which Russia has cultivated to expand its global clout and counter U.S. influence in Latin America.

Russia had been almost alone in recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It made the move shortly after driving Georgian forces out of them in last year's war. But only Nicaragua had followed suit, a tacit slap by the international community and an embarrassment to Moscow's contentions that it was bringing stability to the regions rather than occupying them.

"We will soon begin actions to establish diplomatic relations with these countries," Chavez said at the opening of a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev at his residence outside Moscow.

Russia now has thousands of troops stationed in each of the regions. Chavez's announcement reflects the growing close relations between the two countries,

Chavez was expected to discuss possible weapons and energy deals in the meeting with Medvedev and later with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"We will supply Venezuela the weapons that Venezuela asks for. In accordance with all international law, of course. Why not tanks? Without question, we have good tanks. If our friends want our tanks, we will deliver them," Medvedev said. But no weapons deals would be made public, he said.

Chavez denied that Venezuela's interest in Russian weapons was part of an arms race, and he got in a dig at his nemesis, the United States.

"Previously we were in slavery, thanks to the actions of the Yankee empire, and now what we're doing is increasing our military potential," he said.

Medvedev thanked Chavez for his move on South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"Russia has always had a simple position - we think that it is a country's sovereign right whether to recognize or not recognize new subjects of international law. But, of course, we are not indifferent to the fate of these two states," he said.

Georgia's government dismissed Chavez's announcement.

"Recognition of the separatist regimes of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is a crystallization process and separates normal countries and renegade countries into different sides," said Georgian Cabinet minister Temur Yakobashvili, the government's point man on the regions.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke off from Georgia in wars in the mid-1990s, but Georgia had peacekeeping troops in parts of South Ossetia and held a small section of Abkhazia.

Those forces were driven out last year in a five-day war. Russia says the war started with a fierce Georgian artillery assault on South Ossetia's capital, while Georgia maintains it launched the assault to try to deter a huge Russian military incursion into the region.