Russian foreign minister visits Cuba on Latin American tour

MOSCOW, April 28 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits Cuba on April 28-29 as part of a Latin American tour, ministry sources said on Tuesday. “Lavrov is scheduled for talks with the president of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba Raul Castro and Minister of Foreign Relations Bruno Rodriguez,” they said. Talks are expected to focus “on a wide range of topical issues on the international and regional agenda, as well as on different aspects of bilateral cooperation,” they added. “Cooperation with Cuba - a long-standing friend and reliable partner of Russia in the Latin American region, is basing on the declaration on principles of relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cuba and the memorandum on principles of strategic cooperation, signed in 1996 in Havana and in 2009 in Moscow accordingly,” the sources said. The countries maintain a regular political dialogue at the summit and high levels. Russian presidents visited Cuba twice - paying an official visit in 2000 and a working visit in 2008. Raul Castro paid a working visit to Russia in 2009 and an official visit - 2012. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Cuba in February 2013. In accordance with a protocol signed in 1993, the two countries hold regular foreign ministerial consultations on international, regional and bilateral agenda. In 2013, they signed a plan of consultations for 2014-2016, and four rounds of consultations have been already held this year. Along with political cooperation, the sides intend to focus at the upcoming talks on trade and economic ties, aiming to increase and diversify trade. The two countries look into cooperation projects in many sectors, including energy, transport, biotechnologies, civil aviation, peaceful uses of outer space, healthcare, education, as well as cultural and humanitarian sector. Learn more on itar-tass.com