A Foreign Ministry spokesman says that Russia may hold joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela. Andrei Nesterenko says Russian navy ships are to visit Venezuela before the year's end. Nesterenko said Monday that the Russian and Venezuelan navies could hold a joint exercise. The Russian statement comes after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the maneuvers in his Sunday television and radio program. Chavez said Russian naval vessels are due to call at Venezuelan ports in late November or December. Nesterenko said the joint exercise wouldn't be directed against any third country, according to a report of the Associated Press.
