"Relations between the two countries have not always been smooth and continuous, but there has never been severance of mutual liking between our peoples. If there is something or somebody symbolizing these strong and friendly feelings, it is the personality and creating work of Nobelist Pablo Neruda", Silberman told the RIA Novosti press conference on the 100th birth anniversary of the Chilean poet.
"Pablo Neruda is, above all, a poet extolling love. Love of Chile, Latin America, people", Mario Siberman said.
Also present at the press conference, Karen Khachaturov, chairman of the Russian Latin America Cooperation Committee, recalled that Pablo Neruda, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, had for nine years been "an excellent correspondent of the Novosti Press Agency (RIA Novosti is its legal successor) in countries of Latin America".
Sixty years ago Russia and Chile established diplomatic relations.
