Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) listens to military honours alongside his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad (L) at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on June 26, 2010. Assad is in Venezuela as part of a Latin American tour aimed at consolidating ties, which will also take him to Cuba, Brasil and Argentina. (Photo : Getty)
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) speaks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad (L) at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on June 26, 2010. Assad is in Venezuela as part of a Latin American tour aimed at consolidating ties, which will also take him to Cuba, Brasil and Argentina. (Photo : Getty)
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (L) is welcomed by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas June 26, 2010. Assad is on a rare visit to Latin America aimed at extending Syria’s diplomatic reach after emerging from Western isolation, and attracting investment for his country’s ageing infrastructure. (Photo : Getty)
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, second right, looks up while speaking with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, right back to camera, during a welcoming ceremony at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Saturday, June 26, 2010. Bashar al-Assad is in Venezuela for a two-day official visit. (Photo : Getty)
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, left, walks accompanied by Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, right, during a welcoming ceremony at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Saturday, June 26, 2010. Bashar al-Assad is in Venezuela for a two-day official visit. (Photo : Getty)
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) speaks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad (R) at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on June 26, 2010. Assad is in Venezuela as part of a Latin American tour aimed at consolidating ties, which will also take him to Cuba, Brasil and Argentina. (Photo : Getty)
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez (L) and Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (R) talk during a meeting at Miraflores Palace in Caracas June 26, 2010. (Photo : Getty)
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (L) shakes hands with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas June 26, 2010. Assad is on a rare visit to Latin America aimed at extending Syria’s diplomatic reach after emerging from Western isolation, and attracting investment for his country’s ageing infrastructure. (Photo : Getty)
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez (R) is decorated by Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (L) at Miraflores Palace in Caracas June 26, 2010. Assad is on a rare visit to Latin America aimed at extending Syria’s diplomatic reach after emerging from Western isolation, and attracting investment for his country’s ageing infrastructure. (Photo : Getty)
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez (R) speaks as Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad listens during a ceremony where the two countries signed an economic agreement at Miraflores Palace in Caracas June 26, 2010. Assad is on a rare visit to Latin America aimed at extending Syria’s diplomatic reach after emerging from Western isolation, and attracting investment for his country’s ageing infrastructure.