Moscow ready to extend all-round support to Latin American partners - top Russian security official
MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) - Russia stands ready to provide comprehensive support to partners in Latin America, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said.
"We are ready to provide all-round, comprehensive support to our Latin American friends. It is necessary to enhance our coordination on international platforms," Patrushev said at security consultations with representatives of Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia in Managua on Tuesday.
"The parties exchanged views on regional security. Measures to counter foreign interference in sovereign states' internal affairs were discussed in detail," the Russian Security Council's press service said in a statement following the consultations.
"Developing friendly relations with our key partners in Latin America and the Caribbean remains a major international priority for Moscow. The significance of this region for Russia is growing rapidly. These are the countries standing at the forefront of the struggle for the true sovereignty of Latin America and for its full-fledged role on the world stage," the statement quoted Patrushev as saying at the consultations.
"Moscow will continue to do everything possible to contribute to efforts to stop interference in our countries' internal affairs, campaigns to discredit their legitimate authorities, intimidate the population and destabilize the economy," Patrushev told the representatives of Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia who attended the meeting.
"You are perfectly aware of the United States' aggressive methods to violently depose governments that do not suit them, to exert political pressure and to economically deter states that demonstrate self-sufficiency," he said.
"We believe that all these instruments will be used even more aggressively against not only Russia, but also against a number of Latin American states, especially as some of your countries are entering the pre-election period this year or the following year," the press service quoted Patrushev as saying.
The Russian Security Council earlier announced Patrushev's arrival in Nicaragua to attend bilateral security consultations.
Before coming to Nicaragua, Patrushev visited Cuba, where he met with Cuban Revolution leader Raul Castro and President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the press service said.
The parties reaffirmed that Russia and Cuba are reliable allies, which "are actively developing multifaceted cooperation, continuing the policy aimed at deepening Russian-Cuban ties," it said after Patrushev's meeting with the Cuban president.