| Zappy and Hugo making a play for the "Axis of Almost as Weasel." |
Spanish defence minister Jose Bono was finalising details of a controversial arms deal with Venezuela. Despite criticism from the United States over the deal with Venezuela, Spain has said it should not harm relations with Washington because it's a deal "between companies".The US has threatened not to authorize the sale of the Spanish-made equipment because it contains US technology to which Venezuela could gain access. The US could "veto" the inclusion of specific components. The agreement involves the sale of 12 aircraft and eight frigates built by Spain's EADS-CASA and Navantia groups at a cost of EUR 1.7 billion Last week, US ambassador to Spain, Eduardo Aguirre, said: "In the long run, we hope the sale won't go ahead." Aguirre said his country is concerned the sheer size of the purchase will prove "a destabilizing factor in that region". Regarding the deal, Bono said his country will work out "everything that benefits Spain and the interests of its industry" with "transparency and clarity". |