Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, left, speaks as Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin applauds during a meeting in Managua, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008. Sechin is in Nicaragua to discuss with Ortega economic cooperation issues.
Photo: AP
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Igor Sechin Linked Up Nicaragua
Led by Vice Premier Igor Sechin, Russia’s delegation completed yesterday the Latin American tour. The last stop in the region was Nicaragua, the sole country in the world that recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in addition to Russia. In return, Russia will help Nicaragua with hydroelectric energy and crude oil exploration in the ocean’s shelf. The fact that these projects won’t yield great economic profits to Russia’s companies is of little significance now.
Russia’s Vice Premier Igor Sechin was bound to visit Nicaragua after the latter abruptly recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Nicaragua’s leadership didn’t spare the complements when meeting the Russians. President Daniel Ortega said Russia continues to bring light to the world, and that the United States is mistaken when supposing that it can break Russia into pieces after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Daniel Ortega pointed out that they recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia ahead of other states, and Sechin expressed Russia’s gratitude for support and understanding. After that, Nicaragua’s president and Russia’s vice premier left the public for the tête-à-tête talks, which result was Russia’s promise to help Nicaragua create a port infrastructure and develop research and cultural ties.
Sechin particularly emphasized the energy cooperation. Moscow will assist Managua in designing and constructing small and middle hydroelectric power plants and geothermal power plants. Inter RAO UES CEO Evgeny Dod accompanied the vice premier in the trip and Inter RAO deals exactly with promotion of such projects.
Besides, Russia is likely to join the crude oil exploration in the ocean’s shelf of Nicaragua. Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev and LUKOIL Vice President and Lukoil Overseas CEO Andrei Kuzyaev were also members of Sechin’s delegation.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 19, 2008
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