Ford Russia plant stops production for two weeks.

VSEVOLOZHSK, Leningrad region, August 31 (Itar-Tass) - Ford Russia
plant stops its production on Monday for two weeks, the plant's public
relations specialist, Yekaterina Kulinenko, told Itar-Tass.

The decision on a temporary stoppage of the car plant in the Leningrad
region had been taken to adjust Russia Ford's production capacities to
lowering demand on the country's automotive market, she said.
During the idle period employees will be paid two thirds of their
average wage.
The plant will resume its production on September 14.
Experts forecast that this year 1.4 million new cars will be sold in
Russia - a decline in sales by over 50 percent year-on-year.
To avoid layoffs following lower production volumes the plant will
switch to two- shift schedule on September 22.
"All employees of the third shift will take vacancies in the first and
second shifts," Kulinenko said.
At present, Ford Russia operates on a shorter schedule - four days a
week. In this mode the plant will also work from October 2009 to February
5, 2010.
Ford Russia in Vsevolozhsk was opened in 2002 and became Russia's
first foreign motor works. The plant is specialized in the production of
Ford Focus cars. It is the only European car plant, which makes Ford Focus
in all four modifications: universal, sedan, five-door and three-door
hatchback. Last year Ford Mondeo cars rolled off the plant's assembly line.



.Chavez' visit to Moscow to boost ties.

CARACAS, August 31 (Itar-Tass) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has
expressed confidence that his visit to Moscow will strengthen the
strategic alliance between Venezuela and Russia in all areas of
cooperation.
High on the talks' agenda will be important issues in all areas of
cooperation - economy, science, finance, the military and technical
sector, science and culture, he told a news conference with foreign
reporters on Sunday.
"We will move forward in creating a joint bank, an investment
development fund and a strategic alliance between the state-run oil and
gas corporation Petroleos de Venezuela and Russian companies in the oil,
gas and petrochemical industries," he said.
Moreover, Chavez stressed that cooperation in electric power
development, including the civilian use of nuclear power, will also top
the agenda.
The Venezuelan leader noted that Moscow would be the last leg of his
tour, which begins on Monday. He is expected to visit Libya, Algiers,
Syria, Iran, Belarus and Russia. His visit will last until September 11.


.Russia plays positive role in world politics - Chavez.

CARACAS, August 31 (Itar-Tass) - Venezuela seeks stronger relations
with Russia, President Hugo Chavez told a news conference on Sunday ahead
of his visit to Russia.
He stressed "Russia's positive role as one of the world's leading
powers" in the geopolitical balance of power. "This is a very positive
role," Chavez said.
He noted that Vladimir Putin during his two-term presidency and
President Dmitry Medvedev made a great contribution to Russian-Venezuelan
relations that acquired dynamic development.
"Venezuela and Russia take efforts to create a mutlipolar world,"
Chavez said.


Venezuelan-Russian oil cooperation strategically important - Chavez.


CARACAS, August 31 (Itar-Tass) - Venezuelan-Russian cooperation in the
oil sector is strategically important, President Hugo Chavez told a news
conference on Sunday ahead of his tour to Russia.
"Russia and Venezuela are oil giants" not only in the exploration, but
also in the number of proven oil reserves, he said.
"The Russian national oil consortium that brings together the world's
five biggest Russian oil companies and one of the world's largest
state-run corporations Petroleos de Venezuela take active efforts to build
up a strategic alliance," he said.
One of the areas of the oil giants' cooperation is the oil development
in Venezuela's Orinoco river belt.
"Participation of the Russian consortium in exploration of several
deposits of the Orinoco Belt successfully moves forward," Chavez noted
adding that this cooperation "maintain its pace" despite the global
economic crisis.
The Orinoco Belt's reserves are estimated at 235 billion barrels of
heavy crude and extra heavy crude oil.
Russia's investments in this oil-rich region of Venezuela alone exceed
"dozens of billions of dollars," Chavez said. Russia injects not only in
the oil exploration, but also in the development of infrastructure.