Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, left, walks
alongside his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro as they
participate in a flower offering in honour of Cuban
national hero, Jose Marti, in Havana on Nov. 27.
Posted on 11/27/2008 9:36:27 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
HAVANA — Russia's president visited old Cold War ally Cuba on Thursday after meeting with his nation's new friends in Latin America in a tour aimed at reviving relationships that have frayed since the Soviet Union's collapse.
Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Havana from Venezuela, where he met with socialist President Hugo Chavez and agreed to help the oil-rich South American country start a nuclear energy program.
Russian officials deny that Medvedev's trip to Latin America — traditionally considered in the U.S. sphere of influence — is meant to provoke the United States, but the voyage included meetings with Washington's staunchest opponents in the region.
In Havana, Medvedev was greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Ricardo Cabrisas, the island's chief of foreign trade and investment. He was immediately sped away in a limousine without addressing reporters.
Medvedev later met with President Raul Castro, who was especially friendly with the Russians during the Soviet years. ....
Earlier Thursday, Medvedev and Chavez toured a Russian destroyer docked in a Venezuelan port, one of two large Russian warships that arrived this week for training exercises in the first deployment of its kind in the Caribbean since the Cold War.
Chavez saluted the captain, and while touring the vessel joked to reporters from the deck: "We're going to Cuba!" The warships will hold joint exercises with Venezuela's navy next week. ....
Wednesday's accords included a pledge of cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy.
Moscow plans to develop a nuclear cooperation program with Venezuela by the end of next year, said Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency.
Cuba is the last stop on a four-nation tour, which also included visits to Peru and Brazil and talks in Caracas with Bolivia's Evo Morales and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Funny (sarc), the Russians are getting around the world during the transitory time of our country and at the same declare our country ready to break up, tell us to go make friends with Iran all at the same time as the Indian attacks.
Aw, look at the cute picture of Che in the background. How adorable.
Hey Russia, how’s the price of oil for ya?
Or is that “Jose Marti”?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.