Russia Today, December 10, 2008, 19:07

Hats off to Argentina!

The global financial crisis, increased bilateral trade and energy cooperation were on the top of the agenda as Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on Wednesday.

"Our relations cannot only be limited to trade, although ties between our countries and our private enterprises are highly important," said the Argentinian leader at a news conference following the meeting. "We should also shape our policy together on the basis of our vision on how we see our emerging new world. Political issues can be as important as economical ones. In fact, these areas are closely related."

According to a joint statement released after the talks, "the presidents spoke in favour of continuing to reform international financial organisations with the aim of making their work more prompt and efficient."

The leaders also expressed "deep concern" about the ongoing financial crisis and agreed that the international currency system should be reformed, the statement said.

It's a high-powered visit for the South Americans who are keen to explore trade opportunities. More than a hundred leading Argentinean business figures were with their president for the country's first state visit to Russia in ten years.

Trade between the two nations increased fivefold over the past four years. In 2007, turnover between the two amounted to $US 1.36 billion. In the first eight months of this year that figure stood at $US 1.33 billion.

"It seems that by the end of the year we will reach $US 2 billion," President Medvedev told journalists. He stressed that energy co-operation is also an important part of the countries' relations.

"We have every possibility to develop cooperation in the gas industry, including building a new gas pipeline, which would link Argentina and Bolivia," he said. "It's an interesting project. Hopefully, we will agree on the details and it will be implemented on a large scale. It will help our Latin American colleagues to settle problems they face."

Wednesday saw not only business and politics discussed by the two leaders. Dmitry Medvedev presented his Argentine counterpart with a silver-fox hat. During Medvedev's visit to Venezuela last month, President Hugo Chavez told the Russian leader during a news conference that Fernandez de Kirshner was an "extraordinary woman."

"She's a real sword of a woman. Give her a fur hat when she comes to Moscow," Chavez proposed. And Medvedev seems to have followed the advice.

2010 will mark the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Wednesday’s meeting is further evidence of Russia’s policy of increasing contacts with Latin America. At the end of November, Medvedev toured Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Cuba.
 

We’re open for business in Latin America - Medvedev

Russia today November 28, 2008, 10:11

President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia is not afraid of economic competition from other countries operating in Latin American. The statement comes as the Russian leader continues an official visit to Cuba on the final leg of his South American tour.

Once tied by a common ideology, Russia and Cuba have been estranged for almost a decade. Vladimir Putin was the last Russian leader to visit Cuba in 2000 when Moscow closed its radar base there, causing a halt in bilateral ties.

But now Russians are back - this time bearing icons rather than weapons.

The building of an Orthodox church in Havana is symbolic of how times have changed. It used to be that Moscow exported Lenin's monument to Cuba - now it is religion.

It took more than a decade to build the first Orthodox church here. Opened a month ago, it's still in need of decorations. But visitors have begun arriving. And leaders Dmitry Medvedev and Raul Castro were among them on Thursday.

Lighting candles, of course, is not enough to rekindle bilateral relations, but the Russian President says it is just the first step.

Medvedev and Castro met twice during the visit and reportedly discussed potential energy and military projects.

But the most intriguing part of the trip is unlikely to be captured by cameras. The Russian President still has one more scheduled meeting, and the identity of the other party is the worst kept secret in Havana.

Meanwhile, Medvedev had time on Thursday to sum up the results of his Latin American tour.

He told reporters that Russia would develop cooperation with Latin America, but not to the detriment of international security.
   
Medvedev said he was pleased with the energy component of the talks.

“There are a number of interesting projects. In the most advanced phase are projects in Venezuela,” Medvedev said.

There are also a number of ideas to develop cooperation with Brazil, and there are projects in Cuba and Peru too, Medvedev stressed.