Cuba, Russia vow to further boost military cooperation

Cuba, Russia vow to further boost military cooperation
English.news.cn 2015-02-14 15:07:33

HAVANA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Raul Castro held talks here
Friday with visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, with both
sides expressing readiness to further strengthening military-technical
cooperation between their two countries.

During the talks, Castro and Shoigu reviewed "the historical ties
linking the two nations and ratified the willingness to continue
strengthening the collaboration bonds," according to a press release
issued by the Cuban government.

Besides the Russian delegation led by Shoigu, the talks were also
attended by Cuban Defense Minister Leopoldo Cintra Frias and senior
officers of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Shoigu started the official visit to Cuba on Friday. Before the talks,
Shoigu laid a wreath at the Cacahual Mausoleum outside Havana holding
the remains of the independence war hero Antonio Maceo (1845-1896).

It is Shoigu's first visit to Cuba since his appointment as the defense
chief by President Vladimir Putin. His agenda also includes visit to
military units, according to local media.

Cuba is a leg of Shoigu's Latin American tour starting on Feb. 10, which
also includes Venezuela and Nicaragua -- countries maintaining close
ties with Russia.

Russia and Cuba were close economic and political allies during the Cold
War era. Relations between the two countries diminished after the
collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991. In 2008, Raul Castro began
a very active policy of restoring old links with Moscow, ushering in
exchange of visits by the two countries' presidents.

Source: Cuba, Russia vow to further boost military cooperation - Xinhua
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