Periodico 26

Russia will help Cuba face the US sanctions that restrict group travel to the Caribbean nation.

Moscow.— "We will give them all kinds of help," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said in a meeting with the vice president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas, in the Russian capital

Borisov's statements, were quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax.

Washington has adopted a host of punitive measure against Cuba, citing the island´s support to "US adversaries like Venezuela and Nicaragua."

The Russian deputy prime minister described as "complex" the situation created in the Cuba by the recent US restrictions and recalled his country's involvement in numerous projects of energy, metallurgy, infrastructure and transport on the island nation.

He also stressed that the two countries are united by "traditional bonds of friendship" and considered Cuba a key partner for Russia in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Cabrisas has praised the increase of commercial exchanges between both countries, describing the Havana-Moscow links as "strategic."

RUSSIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS TIGHTENING OF US BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA

Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed Wednesday a strong and resolute condemnation of the tightening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for almost 60 years.

"We strongly condemn the tightening of the U.S. blockade against Cuba," spokeswoman Maria Zajarova said.

Frankly, we are surprised by the cynical formulation offered by Washington, which justifies such harsh unilateral and coercive measures against Havana. Although it is more about actions against Cuban citizens, the spokeswoman added.

In fact, the tightening the economic blockade against Cuba, above all, damages the citizens interests, depriving them of their rights and freedoms, which, apparently, are so defended by Washington in the world, Zajarova reiterated.

Beginning Wednesday, the White House has announced a ban on U.S. cruise ships, airplanes and private vessels to Cuba, as well as suspending the trips of cultural and other exchange groups, among other measures.

Such political-military adventures by Washington and its allies around the world always led only to disasters, the foreign ministry spokeswoman said. (RHC / PL)