Chavez helped Russia’s cooperation with Latin America: LavrovMarch 9, 2013 - 16:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has praised late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for helping Moscow to reach a new level of partnership with Latin American countries. “What has happened in the past years in terms of [Russia’s] rapprochement with these countries – we have significantly enhanced our relations with practically all the Latin and Caribbean states – fairly reflects [policies] that Hugo Chavez promoted,” Lavrov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 channel, according to RIA Novosti. Lavrov said Russia is interested in expanding cooperation with Latin American countries, adding that most regional leaders have similar views on addressing global issues. Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez died on March 5 at the age of 58 after an almost two-year battle with cancer. Ties between Russia and Venezuela flourished under Chavez, whose 14-year-rule brought Moscow a number of lucrative arms deals. The Russian foreign minister said he hopes this tendency in relations with Latin American countries will remain despite the death of the prominent Venezuelan leader. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who went on a brief tour of Latin America in February, called the region an area of Russia’s “strategic interest” and expressed hope that full-scale cooperation between Russia and Latin American countries will develop. Russia is maintaining relations with Latin American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Ecuador. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |