Moscow wants to intensify trade ties with Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Politics

Sep 28 2004 7:10PM
Moscow wants to intensify trade ties with Cuba
MOSCOW. Sept 28 (Interfax) - Moscow is determined to intensify the development of trade and economic ties with Cuba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said while visiting Havana.

"In the current situation, the purposes of this visit, in addition to exchanging opinions on international problems, will be also discussing ways of the development of trade and economic ties," Lavrov said.

Following the well-known changes that have occurred in relations between the two countries, including the discontinuation, for objective reasons, of the traditional "oil for sugar" program, Moscow and Havana need to look for new forms of cooperation, he said.
(snip/)

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10706747

[blindpig]

1. the Cuban people sure need all of the help they can get.

Hopefully President Kerry will take a more enlightened approach to Cuba, despite the crap that has been spouted in Florida lately. The way these people go on about free trade..........

[Mika]

2. The American people need all of the help they can get too

Cubans have affordable health care for all, and Cuba's school system is better than in most of the US w/free higher ed.

I know plenty of Americans who would give their left one for those things.

[blindpig]

6. too true

I was thinking more of the bigger stuff, infrastructure, for which they are cash starved. For example, maintenance of the historical structures in Havana.
During our trip our guide developed severe allergies(like hay fever), a quick stop at the hotel nurses' office and done. He also spoke of his father's(whom we met)successful cancer treatment, completed without usurious insurance and not resulting in penury.

[bemildred]

3. We seem to be stomping all over the Monroe Doctrine today Judi.

First Venezuela, now Cuba.

[Judi Lynn]

4. This is really unexpected. The timing would have to be meant to be noticed

I would think someone's trying to make a point. Just not sure what that is!

This probably couldn't have happened as easily if _Bush hadn't thrown the very gradual thaw we were having with Cuba in reverse, and taken the country back several decades.

The Venezuela move probably wouldn't have been likely if _Bush hadn't funded a coup against Hugo Chavez.

Don't you imagine there was a great need created once more with both Venezuela and Cuba due to the new public insults and threats flying from _Bush and _his State Department to those two countries? I'll bet they think they may be needing a protecive large power soon, just as Cuba did during the early 1960's.

[bemildred]

7. Pooty-Poot apparently is tired of US provocations and has

decided to push back, but not in the expected way, I would say.

[tom_paine]

5. Naturally the Grand Chessboard is heating up

Comrade Putin wants his Cuban Pawn back.

Soulmate Bunnypants will want to deny it to him.