RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT HAVANA

Jakarta Forum - HAVANA, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was due here Thursday for a two-day visit at the head of a 200-person delegation participating as guests of honor at this year`s Havana International Book Fair.

Lavrov was scheduled to meet with his Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Lopez and counterpart for discussions on their bilateral economic and political relations, the Cuban government said in a statement.

Relations between the two countries "are developing at an accelerated pace in all spheres," Russia`s Ambassador to Cuba Mikhail Kaminin said.

During the Cold War, the former Soviet Union was Cuba`s closest political ally and a major source of support for its communist economy.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 relations between the two disintegrated, but they have been on the mend since 2005 with reciprocal visits by President Raul Castro and Dmitry Medvedev.

Lavrov`s delegation includes writers, artists and intellectuals attending the February 14-21 book fair, which has made Russia a guest of honor.

Source: Antara News