Shoigu promises modern weapons to Cuban Army
MOSCOW. April 24 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia sees Cuba as a good friend and is ready for active defense and military-technological cooperation, Russian Defense Minister Gen. of the Army Sergei Shoigu told Vice-President of the Cuban Council of Ministers Cuba Ricardo Cabrisas at a meeting.
"We intend to continue our assistance to the provision of modern armaments and military hardware to the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces," Shoigu said.
He added that Cuba was "an old friend [of Russia] and a symbol of freedom and independence in Latin America."
Last summer's visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Havana gave a powerful impetus to Russian-Cuban cooperation, he said. "All the decisions made during that visit are being closely monitored and fulfilled by our country," the minister stated.
"Our interaction in the military field has been rather active, and the meetings I had in Havana in February 2015 confirmed the common wish to broaden partnership in the defense and military-technological cooperation areas," Shoigu said.
He thanked Cabrisas for the warm welcome given to Russian military ships and vessels in Havana.
"We have profuse experience of training Cuban specialists in a variety of education establishments. We hope to carry on this good tradition and to broaden our cooperation in personnel training," Shoigu said.
Cabrisas called Shoigu a friend and said that the two defense ministries had a perfect relationship, "and our two states have a perfect relationship too. Our relations are solid. Your visit to Havana in February of this year helped strengthen cooperation," Cabrisas said.