Putin promises to support Cuba on surmounting US blockade

"Russia is interested in placing GLONASS ground stations in Cuba. And in this case, the Cuban side will have access to services and satellite communications technologies in the area of the station," said the President after talks with the chairman of the State Council of Cuba Raul Castro.

According to RIA Novosti, the Russian-Cuban intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the space sector was signed in February 2013. It is expected that it will come into force shortly. Thus, there will be legal basis for the work on the creation of GLONASS ground stations in Cuba.

Also Vladimir Putin said to reporters after a meeting with the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba and of the Council of State of Cuba Raul Castro that Construction cost of four units for thermal electric power station built by Russia "Maxime Gomez" and "East of Havana" will amount to 1.2 billion Euros.

""Inter RAO" Company " intends to build four thermal generating units for power plant "Maxime Gomez" and "East of Havana" total cost of 1.2 billion Euros," - said the president. Following the talks, in the presence of Putin and Castro "Inter RAO - Export" and Union Electrica signed a memorandum of understanding on the signing of the contract for construction in Cuba four units with a capacity of 200 megawatts.

Putin lays wreath to Jose Marti monument within framework of his visit to Cuba

Russian President Vladimir Putin who is paying a working visit to Cuba laid a wreath to the monument to Cuba's national hero Jose Marti on Havana's Revolution Square on Friday. This is a traditional protocol event for the leaders of foreign countries who visit Cuba. The memorial is located on Revolution Square, which is the venue for major national events of the Cuban people. It is surrounded by the buildings of the Ministries of Revolutionary Armed Forces; Communications and Internal Affairs; the Jose Marti National Library and the National Theatre.

The Palace of the Revolution is the central building on the square. It is the seat of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party; the State Council (parliament) and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, Putin visited the Jose Marti museum and left a note in the Book of Honorary Guests.

After that, the Russian head of state headed for negotiations with Raul Castro, chairman of the Cuban State Council and the Council of Ministers.

Putin meets Cuba's Comandante Fidel Castro

Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Cuban President Fidel Castro held an hour-long meeting on Friday. The two men exchanged views on international affairs and global economy and discussed in detail bilateral relations between Russia and Cuba, reports Itar-Tass.

Vladimir Putin says Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and he discussed international and bilateral issues and the situation on currency markets at a meeting on Friday. At the start of Putin's meeting with Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers President Raul Castro later in the day, the latter asked the Russian president how his meeting with Fidel Castro had passed.

"I know you had a long meeting with Fidel today," Raul Castro said addressing Putin. The Russian president replied, "Yes, we had a very interesting and long conversation. We touched on international issues and bilateral problems, the situation on currency markets, and the development of the agricultural sector." Putin said he was absolutely satisfied with the meeting. Raul Castro asked him, "Fidel still talks a lot, doesn't he?" Putin replied that the conversation was good and lengthy.

At the start of the negotiations, Raul Castro dwelled on women's involvement in government affairs, saying that "women in Cuba are more responsible than men. This is African heritage, as men hunted and women dealt with home there." Raul Castro also noted that the birth rate in Cuba is very low, with families having only one child as a rule, and that this problem cannot be resolved quickly.

Then the Cuban leader asked Cuban and Russian government ministers attending the meeting whether they had the chance to work well in the morning. "When ministers work well, it is easier for us, presidents, and when not, they make us work more," he said addressing Putin. After that, the meeting proceeded without members of the press.

Putin writes off 90 percent of Cuba's debts to USSR

President of Russia Vladimir Putin has signed a law, in which 90 percent of the debt of the Republic of Cuba to the Soviet Union will be written off, the press service of the Kremlin reports. Earlier, the law was passed by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council. Cuba will pay the remaining part of the debt (about $3.5 billion) over the next 10 years in equal semi-annual payments.

The first payment must be received on October 25, this year, and the last - on April 25, 2024. Payments will be entered in the dollar account of Vnesheconombank in the National Bank of Cuba.

It is supposed that these funds will be used to finance investment projects in Cuba. Earlier, Zarubezhneft and Inter RAO UES showed interest in these projects.

The Cuban debt includes project covenants that were funded from the state loans of the former USSR, and also interest from the principal debt, accumulated during the period of the loan.

President Putin begins Latin American tour with visit to Cuba

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin starts his six-day tour of Latin America with a visit to Cuba. The parties intend to sign a number of agreements, including a document concerning works on the shelf, which will be signed by Rosneft, Zarubezhneft and CUPET.

In particular, on July 11, the Russian head of state will hold talks with Chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers Raul Castro and meet with the leader of the Cuban revolution Fidel Castro. The meeting with the leader of the Cuban revolution, who has turned 87, will be informal, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on the eve of the visit.

After Cuba, Putin will arrive in Argentina, where he will hold talks with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Then, on July 13, the Russian leader will go to Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro he will visit the final match of the FIFA World Cup and, probably, meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Then, the President will travel to Brasilia, where his talks with President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff are scheduled. The main event of the visit to Latin America will be participation in the summit of the BRICS, which will be held in two cities - Fortaleza and Brasilia.