Go on, guess who wrote this?
The website Belarus Today reports
that as many as 18 agreements on trade and economic cooperation were
signed during the recent visit of an official Belarus delegation to
Venezuela. A most important result was Belarus’ plan to launch
commercial oil production in Venezuela by the end of 2007. Venezuela
allowed Belarus to choose two oil deposits with a developed
infrastructure and big oil reserves.
In return, Belarus will also
supply Venezuela with $49 million worth of building and road machinery,
1,000 tonnes of whole milk powder and $14.5 million worth of equipment
made by Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT).
The total of trade and
economic contracts, excluding military ones, amounts to $250 million.
The total of military contracts exceeds $1bn.
Belarus and
Venezuela are natural allies: both are progressive, independent,
socialist democracies who are following entirely different economic and
social agendas to the neo-liberal one laid down by the Empire, one
which benefits only multinationals and the very rich. Because of their
independence, the leaders of Belarus and Venezuela have been demonised:
both President Lukashenko and President Chavez have been called
‘dictators’ despite their regular election successes and the
overwhelming popularity both men command in their respective countries.
Around the world today we are witnessing the formation of an
alternative power bloc, of which the Belarus-Venezuela trade/military
agreement is the latest step.
For all those who support the ideas of
a truly democratic world, one in which the economic and social path a
country follows is decided by the people of the country itself, and not
by unelected bankers, it’s an extremely positive development.
No, no, you’ve got to guess before you look.
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