RF, Colombia FMs to discuss prospects for concrete projects.

MOSCOW, April 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sergei Lavrov is to hold talks here on Tuesday with his Colombian
counterpart Jaime Bermudez Merizalde, who is currently in Moscow on an
official visit.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said that within
the framework of the conversation main emphasis would be laid on "the need
to step up the efforts of the two sides with a view to reaching out to
concrete programmes and projects in the most important and promising areas
of cooperation".
Nesterenko mentioned such major fields of cooperation as the peaceful
uses of outer space, energy, the petroleum sector, engineering, modern
technologies, military-technical cooperation, and agriculture.
The sides are expected to sign a number of documents with a view to
strengthening the legal-treaty basis of bilateral relations. "As a result
of the talks, the Ministers are to adopt a Joint Statement which will
record an appraisal of the present-day state of Russo-Colombian relations
and the intention of the sides to promote their dynamic and progressive
development, and reflect coincidence or proximity of the positions of
Russia and Colombia on the main issues that are on the global agenda,"
Nesterenko pointed out.
"A Treaty between Russia and Colombia on mutual legal assistance on
criminal cases, and a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of physical
culture and sports between the Russian Ministry of Sports, Tourism, and
Youth Policy and the Colombian Institute of Sports are being prepared for
signature," he added.
Nesterenko said, "Russia views Colombia as one of important partners
in Latin America and in the international arena". "We are interested in
the promotion of cooperation with Colombia in the formats of various
integrational Latin American groups," he explained.
The Colombian Foreign Minister's visit, which is being made in the
year of the bi-centenary of Colombia's independence and the 75th
anniversary of the establishment of Russo-Colombian diplomatic relations,
is expected to contribute to the strengthening of the political dialogue
between the two countries and practical advancement of mutually beneficial
cooperation in various fields.