Cuba and Russia sign air transport services agreement

Message from President Vladimir Putin, wishing President Fidel Castro a speedy recovery

BY JUVENAL BALÁN NEYRA

AN agreement between the governments of the Republic of Cuba and the Russian Federation on air services was signed by Rogelio Acevedo González, president of the Cuban Institute of Civil Aeronautics, and Igor Euguenievich Levitin, Russian minister of transport, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

These agreements increase cooperation in air transport matters, facilitating the development of these services and ongoing education for aeronautics personnel in both countries, and creating even closer ties than the historical and friendly ones existing between our countries and peoples.

After signing the documents, Acevedo said that relations between Cuba and Russia in this sector are very solid at this time, and evidence of that is the group of agreements that will serve to renew and modernize Cuba’s fleet, with the purchase of IL-96 and TU-204 airplanes.

Bilateral ties in general are very good, both in commercial aspects such as joint enterprises, and other spheres of cooperation, he added.

He also noted that in 2006, Cuba was the top tourist destination in Latin America and the Caribbean for Russians, and the agreements signed will help in air-related activities in tourism, both in passenger and freight transport, which will provide enormous possibilities for development for Cuba and Russia.

For his part, Igor Euguenievich Levitin transmitted a message from President Vladimir Putin, wishing a speedy recovery for President Fidel Castro Ruz and interest in greater commercial and economic relations between the two nations.