Venezuela, France engage in joint military training in helicopters

[Judi Lynn]

Caracas, Thursday April 17 , 2008

Venezuela, France engage in joint military training in helicopters

The Venezuelan military aviation and the French army will do for the first time a joint training with helicopters in Island Margarita, on April 20-25, released on Thursday the embassy of France in Caracas.

"Within the framework of bilateral military cooperation between France and Venezuela, a Puma helicopter of the French army will conduct training together with a Cougar of the Bolivarian military aviation and its crew," disclosed the diplomatic mission in a press release, quoted by AFP.

The French crew, composed of "nine military, pilots, mechanics and divers," will join the No. 10 special operations air group of Maracay, the capital city of central Aragua state, to conduct day-time and night-time exercises in tactical navigation, swift landing and withdrawal from the sea.

"This first joint practice will help improve the existing ties between the French and Venezuelan armies," said the French embassy.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/04/17/en_pol_art_venezuela,-france-en_17A1522283.shtml
opposition newspaper