Posted on 12/10/2013 3:24:04 AM PST by cunning_fish
(Reuters) - Russia and Cuba have quietly signed an agreement to write off 90 percent of Cuba's $32 billion debt to the defunct Soviet Union, a deal that ends a 20-year squabble and opens the way for more investment and trade, Russian and European diplomats said.
The two sides announced an agreement to settle the debt dispute earlier this year and finalized the deal in Moscow in October. It would have Cuba pay $3.2 billion over 10 years in exchange for Russia forgiving the rest of a $32 billion debt - $20 billion plus service and interest, the diplomats said.
It must still be approved by the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament....
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
And we're still giving it away.
And then there are assets taken over by countries like Venezuela.
Russia is going to want something for this, perhaps a small missile base, or something that would upset the balance of power in the southern region of the U.S.!
Maybe this is the “flexibility” obama was promising to Mevedev, in his open mic incident.
When it comes to Russia and obama one must always be suspect.
Not likely. A more likely scenario is Cuba allowing Rosneft, Russia's gigantic petroleum company (which is majority-owned by the Russian government) first dibs at oil exploration off the coasts of Cuba.
Russia is not forgiving it for free, be rest assured of that. Brings them to within 90 miles off our coasts and you can bet there will be parking spaces for Soviet submarines there.
My man trumps obammy again. Oil, gas, tourism and access to Latin American markets.
Like Cuba was ever going to pay it back anyway.
So what does Russia get in the deal?
I guess they want something but an idea that Cuba is actually able to pay $30bn back is about as laughable as if Chinese thought Obama is able to pay them back 15 thrillion.
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