Chavez says Russian warships arriving soon

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Russian warships will soon reach his country's Caribbean coast for joint naval exercises.  Chavez said the Russian ships «will enter Venezuelan waters within a matter of hours.» He didn't say exactly when the ships are to arrive. It's the first such deployment by the Russian navy in the Caribbean since the Cold War. Russia is sending the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, and logistical vessels including a tugboat and a supply ship. The Russian navy said the two warships will visit the Venezuelan port of La Guaira starting Tuesday, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. It said the ships are scheduled to hold joint exercises with Venezuela's navy starting Dec. 1. Chavez is also expecting a visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev starting Wednesday as part of a Latin American tour. Chavez has been boosting ties with Russia while tensions with the U.S. have grown, and he has bought more than $4 billion in Russian weapons.