Russian FM Lavrov Starts Latin America Tour in Cuba

Submitted by wendy davis on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 5:08pm

(H/T mr. wd) from telesurenglish, Feb. 5, 2020 (Creative Commons w/ attribution)

“Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, will visit Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela on an official tour from February 5-8.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Cuba as part of a Feb. 5 – 8 tour of Latin America that will include visits to Mexico and Venezuela.

Lavrov’s meeting with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez will take place in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zajarova said.
During his visit to Latin America, the head of Russian diplomacy will mainly address the development of political dialogue, economic cooperation and the improvement of relations between Russia and Latin American nations.

“We will always support a united, politically and economically strong Latin America, because only under these conditions can that region be materially considered one of the bases of the process of creating a multipolar world,” Lavrov told Prensa Latina.”

The spokeswoman also said that among the issues to be discussed between the two countries will undoubtedly be the coercive measures applied by the United States against the Caribbean nation that has been blocked for more than 60 years.

Russia is actively involved in the Cuban 2030 development program with plans to repair and modernize the railways, build energy blocks, training of specialists, medical cooperation and many other issues.

Upon arrival in the Caribbean country, the Russian Minister also gave an exclusive interview to local media, Prensa Latina, where he reaffirmed again his rejection of the U.S. blockade and highlighted his country’s support of Cuba.

“On the eve of the presidential elections, the White House reinforces the pressure through sanctions against those governments that maintain their national independence, their sovereignty, and identity,” he stressed.

The diplomat went on to say that sanctions applied by Washington against Cuba show that in the eagerness to strangle the economy of the island, the U.S. consciously violates human rights, with people (Cubans) being the most affected.

Subsequently, Lavrov will travel to Mexico to meet with his counterpart from that country, Marcelo Ebrard, with whom he will address the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and regional integration bodies, Russian spokeswoman said.

In Venezuela, Lavrov plans to meet with his counterpart Jorge Arreaza, President Nicolas Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

Russia and Venezuela celebrate this year’s 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, which will be celebrated on March 3, the spokeswoman said, marking a special bilateral meeting between the two countries.

During his visit to Latin America, the head of Russian diplomacy will mainly address the development of political dialogue, economic cooperation and the improvement of relations between Russia and Latin American nations.

“We will always support a united, politically and economically strong Latin America, because only under these conditions can that region be materially considered one of the bases of the process of creating a multipolar world,” Lavrov told Prensa Latina.”

(the rest will mainly be by way of a Twitter Storify)

A brief biography of Jose Marti, ‘Founding Father of Cuban Independence’ is here; apparently the lyrics to Guantanamera (‘country girl from Guantanamo’) come from his poetry. This version by Playing for Change (world peace through music) will make you spirits soar!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blUSVALW_Z4]

[the link goes to his key message on his tour ‘Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Prensa Latina News Agency’, February 5, 2020

Tags: 
russian solidarity w/ latin america
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Submitted by wendy davis on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 6:02pm
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some historical perspective:

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Submitted by mhagle on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 8:45pm
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I'm glad the Russian Government is reaching out to these folks. Someone needs to be humane somewhere.

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—

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Submitted by wendy davis on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 9:57pm
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@mhagle

isn't it? the measure of discontent over the socialist/communist nations is epic now, and increasingly so. bolivia, as well, but evo and MAS are a whole longer and terrifying story.

thanks for reading and caring, mhagle.

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Submitted by apenultimate on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 9:32pm

in the recent Russian government shake-up by Putin that Lavrov had been let go?!

I'm glad if I mis-heard that. I actually think Lavrov is pretty sharp, and actually has a moral compass.

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Submitted by wendy davis on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 10:03pm
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@apenultimate

diplomat, and yes, with a moral compass. but yes, you'd heard incorrectly, thank the gods.

thanks for reading, caring...apenultimate.

la luna bella, she is almost full, and put on quite a show rising over the snow-covered la plata mountains as the sun was going down.

good night. that brilliant version of josé marti's Guantanamera will be tonight's closing song, even as it was an opening song. ; )

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Submitted by wendy davis on Sat, 02/08/2020 - 8:45am
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@apenultimate

pressed Save on my response to you last night, i'd realized two things. one is what a stellar diplomat the iranian FM is, as well. a worthy & pithy tweet:

and also that as far as moral compasses, from a headline i'd seen yesterday...i dunno how far off true north putin's is. so i decided to back this a.m. to try to read '‘Russia and Iran’s Clashing Visions for Syria’s future’; In the second of a three-part series, Agha Hussein investigates Russia’s financial motivation for teaming up with Israel and wealthy Gulf Arab states to curb Iran’s influence in post-war Syria

sigh. it's about three miles long, and yes, putin has his oil oligarchs to please, etc., but if this author ain't just spoutin' rubbish, it makes my stomach quite sick.

otoh, the maple tree is full of blue birds of all hues and species this a.m., so maybe i should go eat my toast and settle my tummy. (not entirely a non-sequitur for me.)

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Submitted by earthling1 on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 10:43pm
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Another country that defeated America.
We can't sustain a victory anywhere on the damn planet.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by Centaurea on Sat, 02/08/2020 - 5:43am
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@earthling1
the US's definition of victory is "stomp around the globe, being a bully, taking whatever we want, and wreaking mayhem on everyone else, while pretending that everything we do is good and right and divinely ordained".

Unsurprisingly, the rest of the world doesn't agree with that approach.

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—

"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi

"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone

Submitted by wendy davis on Sat, 02/08/2020 - 10:21am
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@Centaurea

a shit-ton of weapons along the way. peek into defensedaily.com and get your mind blown a li'l bit more.

The US Empire exports Democracy© around the world!

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Submitted by wendy davis on Sat, 02/08/2020 - 10:09am
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@earthling1

of what they've accomplished for the citizenry in spite of the increasing blockades and sanctions.

don't hold me to this, but iirc, this administration even sanctioned the doctors who went to VZ to help out. having john bolton help Boss Tweet on his anti-'troika of tyranny' policy didn't help.

and now the West (including, of course, the Organization of American States) is accusing evo morales of having run a narco-state all along, thanks to janine anñez and co. bet that may election in bolivia will be a dilly...

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