(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!
[the link above goes to ‘Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Prensa Latina News Agency’, February 5, 2020
(cross-posted at caucus99percent.com)
davidly
Greyson Smythe
LeMoyne
juliania2
ohiobarbarian
stephenadavis1
wendyedavis
café babylon 
Lovely Guantanamera, wendye! Thank you!!
isn’t it brilliant? it even brought tears to my eyes.. i’d thought of you when i’d pasted this all together, knowing how you and i share such high regard for sergei lavrov. i’d hoped he might stop in argentina to see evo morales, but it was not to be.
evo and his MAS party are quite under the gun in bolivia, as the white-faced usurpers are arresting supporters, shooting some, etc.
she and her ilk smear the indigenous, especially morales, in the sickest ways.
Yes, lovely thread about Lavrov’s visits, such a contrast to how the US ‘snuggled up’ to Russia in Crimea! There’s no threat here, just a warm diplomacy and as you say, heartbreak for some in the South over what they have lost – let it be restored!
I sent the link for the music to my sister who with her son had just climbed an extinct volcanic island we two grew up with – and fallen. She was winched aboard a helicopter not far from the summit, flown to hospital, her ankle now in a fibreglass cast. How she loved the video! She sends her joy and thanks!
do tell her welcome, and my hopes for a speedy recovery! (calcium citrate can help). what a view she mist have had from the copter, though….