Russia in Latin America

GarryB wrote:Translation... EU is getting petty and will impose sanctions on countries that don't morally punish Russia for acting against the interests of the west...

Hahahahaha... the EU is hoping that the latin american countries will show solidarity with the west and support the Kiev Junta... and not take advantage of the situation and sell their products in Russia and steal the wests customer... a customer they are clearly trying to starve.

What i really would love to see in a century is when the US empire is gone and zionism is destroyed that North American Continent and Europe can not bully around South American,Middle Eastern,Asian and African countries and they start to develope under non tyrannical conditions and become what they should always be in the first place, prosperous countries that are the main supplier of resources, so far Europe and NA have nothing provided to the table except looting and raping countries for their own development with resources of others. And NA and Europe get the status of being what they always were, uncivilized barbarians that have nothing to offer.

Yes... I suffer from a bit of white shame... oh the west will dress it up as bringing civilisation to the natives but it was really all about finding and securing resources for yourself and your country to give your empire an advantage over the other empires of Europe.

Perhaps in 100 years time historians can be a bit less Euro centric and a bit more honest and balanced about things.

BTW related to that there was a brilliant documentary on the History channel.... yeah I know... the history channel and brilliant documentary... hasn't happened in a while.

It was Oliver Stones history of the US and I thought it was outstanding. it was not anti American at all, but it didn't just look at the American point of view but had a balanced well rounded point of view.

ie Japan didn't just out of the blue attack Pearl Harbour for little or no reason... after years of crippling sanctions and also trying to go into Siberia and being stopped that they invaded the Pacific for the resources that the British and US blockades prevented them from trading legally and peacefully.

Faced with Western Sanctions, Russia Turns South

Russia imposed its own bans on agricultural products from North America and Europe, including meat, poultry, fish, seafood, milk dairy products, fruits and vegetables, which will directly benefit many Latin American coutnries.

For months, Western leaders have been accusing Russia of meddling in Ukraine. Despite blatant support for Ukraine's new leadership – including far-right political groups – by the same Western leaders, the accusations of Russia “destabilising Ukraine” have escalated from rhetoric to actions.

Russia has had sudden, severe economic sanctions placed on it by the United States and the European Union. Within half a year, Russia has found itself estranged from partnerships it had been cultivating since the end of the Cold War. While the souring of relations began with Russia's refusal to allow Western aggressions against Syria, its incorporation of Crimea into its territory following the overwhelming referendum in the autonomous republic, confirmed the new east-west schism.

The sanctions, which hit Russian agricultural, military, financial and political sectors, are meant as a “strong warning.”

As they showed during the Syria situation when they were similarly 'warned', the government of Vladimir Putin was prepared to not only weather measures against it by the West but also ready to respond in kind.

Last week, Russia imposed its own bans on agricultural products from North America and Europe, placing a one-year ban on products from the West including meat, poultry, fish, seafood, milk, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Russia had grown to become the world's biggest consumer of EU fruit and vegetables, as well as the second largest purchaser of U.S. poultry. The ban may hit the European Union alone for up to $16 billion in export losses, according to Russian estimates.

Fresh off the heals of an extensive Latin American tour that included the BRICS Summit in Brazil, Russia is looking to shift its procurement to new markets, especially its allies in South America who have a lot to offer in produce, thanks to the rich biodiversity of the region.

While the potential increases in exports – as well as their value – are still being negotiated, the likely exports from Latin America to Russia represent a potential boom for Latin American agriculture.

Argentina

Russia and Argentina already have strong trade relations. In 2013, trade between the two countries reached US$2.6 billion, a 16 percent growth from the previous year. Argentine officials have said they plan to double bilateral trade in 2014, with the hope of exceeding US$5 billion. In the first quater of 2014, over 27 tonnes of meat were shipped to Russia. Besides meat, Russia imports Argentinian pears, grapes, apples, citrus fruits, beef, peanuts, butter, and cheese.

Brazil

Brazilian exports to Russia in 2012 totaled US$3.14 billion, with Russia as the 2nd largest buyer of Brazilian beef. Other agricultural exports from Brazil to Russia include sugar, soy, coffee, orange juice and bananas. Brazilian meat producers are already preparing for increased exports. Ninety new Brazilian plants have received approval to export beef, chicken and pork to Russia.


Chile

In 2013, Chilean exports to Russia equaled US$567 million in agricultural products including salmon, trout, fruit, gelatin, pork, and wine. Chile also exports a wide array of fruits such as grapes, avocadoes, berries, plums, and kiwis.

Ecuador

While current Ecuadorian exports to Russia - including bananas, cut flower, coffee and tea – have not been significant (just US$817,000 in 2013), in the first five months of 2014, Russia imported 580,000 tons of bananas and 9,300 tons of roses from Ecuador.

Uruguay

Uruguay is also looking to get into the Russian meat market, although it currently exports fish, dairy products and fruits. Agricultural exports represent 88 percent of all exports to Russia.

Russian watchdog to allow 6 Brazilian companies to import pork

MOSCOW, August 14. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control will publish a list of Brazilian companies approved for importing pork on Thursday, spokeswoman Yulia Trofimova told ITAR-TASS late Wednesday.

“There were only two pork producers on the list. We are planning to open four more companies,” Trofimova said.

On August 6, the service said it approved imports by 91 Brazilian companies, including 31 beef byproduct suppliers, 27 poultry and beef meat suppliers, four suppliers of pork and pork byproducts and three suppliers of milk and dairy products. Previously only about 50 Brazilian companies had the right to import to Russia.

Trofimova also said that after talks with the Chilean ambassador, the service approved imports of 12 fish producers and lifted the ban from two fish companies, while six companies expressed their willingness to increase fish supplies to the country.

Russia Looking to Ecuador to Fill Import Gap

Gazprom to start oil production in Brazil and increase presence in Bolivia

Gazprom International, a subsidiary of Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom, plans to increase its presence in South America. The company is in negotiations to purchase a stake in Brazil’s offshore oilfields, and within a year it plans to start production at gas fields in Bolivia.
Gazprom International, a subsidiary of Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom, plans to expand its presence in South America. According to Reuters, the decision was announced by Shakarbek Osmonov, the director of Gazprom Brazil. Osmonov stated that the company is in talks to buy stakes in Brazilian offshore fields and plans to start production at gas fields in Bolivia in a year. In particular, the company is interested in a Brazilian field where exploration is underway; however, the precise identity of the field remains unknown. The company will start gas production in Bolivia in 2016.

The search for new markets

“Latin America is rich in hydrocarbons, which interests Gazprom. Gazprom International, a subsidiary engaged in international projects, will undertake gas production,” said Ivan Kapitonov, deputy head of the department for state economic regulation at the Russian Academy of the National Economy and Public Administration.

According to Kapitonov, “this solution makes it possible for Gazprom to diversify its resource base and expand its presence in a region that is highly attractive in terms of demand.” He added that given the fact that this is a joint project with Gazprom’s European partners, “it is possible to not only share in the revenue from the activity, but also the technologies that are so necessary during the sanction period.” French company Total is a key partner for Gazprom in Bolivia. According to Investkafe analyst Gregory Birg, in 2008 Gazprom, Total, and Bolivian state YPFB signed a service contract for exploration and production at Bolivia’s Acero field, which has reserves estimated at 51 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, with $1 billion to be invested. In addition, there are two other fields that have been explored, with around 176 bcm of gas and 15 million tons of condensate. Gazprom is a minority shareholder, with a 20 percent stake in these fields, while Argentine-Italian Tecpetrol holds another 20 percent and Total owns 60 percent. Russian Economic Ministry downgrades forecast for 2014 Russian Economic Ministry downgrades forecast for 2014 “At a time when the world’s hydrocarbon reserves are being depleted, almost every company is seeking to increase their reserves in one way or another, in order to continue activities in the future,” said Dmitry Baranov from investment holding firm Finam Management. According to Baranov, the Latin American countries have gambled on speeding up development, which means that in the coming years they will need a lot more oil and gas. “Cooperation with Latin American countries will strengthen political and economic relations with Russia and increase the level of trust in relationships. In addition, Russian companies will be able to replicate their experience there in other regions of the world,” he added. The global context According to Gazprom’s press service, Latin America is a promising region for the company. In February 2007, the company signed an agreement with Brazil’s Petrobras to cooperate in hydrocarbon exploration, production, transportation, and marketing. Of principal significance was the development of offshore fields, but the production of liquefied natural gas is included in Gazprom’s planning. Gazprom is also developing similar projects in Venezuela. In September 2008, Russia’s gas giant and local company PDVSA signed a memorandum of understanding on the Blanquilla Este y Tortuga project, which entails exploration and the production of natural gas offshore on the Venezuelan shelf, supply to the domestic market, liquefaction, and export. However, with the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and the European Union, experts believe that Gazprom’s cooperation with Brazil has taken on new meaning. UK proposes cutting Russia off from SWIFT international banking system UK proposes cutting Russia off from SWIFT international banking system “Widening cooperation between Russia and the BRICS countries amid increasing sanctions is a logical, sequential process. Up until the Ukrainian crisis and the ensuing policy of confrontation by Western countries, Russia had given preference to Western companies over the BRICS [the term used for the group of countries comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – RBTH],” Kapitonov said. However, he added that sanctions banning exports of certain types of oil and gas equipment to Russia have given new impetus to projects in Russia and the BRICS countries that may have been planned long ago but had yet to start for a variety of reasons.

Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines - http://rbth.co.uk/business/2014/09/09/gazprom_to_start_oil_production_in_brazil_and_increase_presence_in_b_39647.html)

Central America to Strengthen Ties with Russia

During Central American independence celebrations in Moscow this week, Guatemala's ambassador highlighted the region's achievements.

Central American nations looked to strengthen their ties with Russia during Central American independence celebrations held by Moscow. For the second consecutive year, Central American nations have formally attended diplomatic acts held by the Russian government.

Central America Invites Russian Investment and Diplomacy

During the commemorations, Guatemalan ambassador Estuardo Meneses Coronado spoke about regional integration, referring to the achievements of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and its relationship with Russia. SICA was founded in 1993 and is a political and economic organization of Central American States.

Meneses reiterated the regional body's invitation to Russia to join as an extra-regional observer of the Central American institution.

He also emphasized Central America's hopes to expand commercial opportunities and investment with Russia in areas such as education, health, science, technology, security, culture, tourism and the environment.

Similarly, he recognized the cooperation that Russia offers Central America through the Russian Training Center in Nicaragua for security forces. Russia also provides scholarships for Central Americans to study at the center.

Meneses acknowledged that the majority of SICA members have embassies in Moscow permitting reciprocal diplomatic relations.

SICA countries include Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Panama. Regional and extra-regional observer states include Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Haiti, Peru, Uruguay, United States, Taiwan, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, South Korea, France, United Kingdom and the Vatican.

Russia and Honduras Sign Diplomatic Agreement

Meanwhile, Honduras signed a new agreement with Russia, allowing citizens of both countries to travel without visa for a period of 90 days (extendable to 180 days).

The Russian Foreign Relations Minister Serguei Lavrov and his Honduran counterpart Mireya Aguero signed the agreement during a meeting at the United Nations in New York on Friday.

Russia already has similar travel agreements with other South American countries such as Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Guayana and Panama. Russian president Vladimir Putin toured several Latin American nations this year including Nicaragua, to strengthen diplomatic relations with the region.

Contacts with Peruvian president to help Russia join interesting projects in Latin America

Peru is Russia’s long-standing and reliable partner, the Russian president said after talks with the Peruvian leader held in a narrow format.

“I am sure that your visit will give a new good impetus to our bilateral relations. It will help Russia to join interesting and long-term processes in Latin America,” Putin said.

The Russian head of state added that Russia had always shown interest in the life and history of Latin America. He gave a hearty welcome to his Latin American guest who is paying his first official visit to Moscow and wished him a nice time in Russia.

“I am sure that your visit will be busy and will be filled with meaningful content, which will open up new opportunities for developing our bilateral ties,” Putin concluded.

President Ollanta Humala, in turn, said that his visit to Russia was extremely important and that the Russian-Peruvian ties had been long and fruitful.

“My visit to Russia confirms the desire of my government and my country to strengthen and develop friendship and cooperation between our countries,” President Humala stressed.

He added that several treaties were expected to be signed after today’s talks. It is the result of fruitful work that has been under way for the past few years, the Peruvian leader said adding that he hoped that the signing of those documents would help deepening economic and trade relations between Russia and Peru.

“I assume that Latin America, including Peru, is at that stage (of development) that allows us to enhance our relations in the region on the whole and improve our bilateral relations with Russia,” he said.

Putin notes Russia-Peru common positions on many global issues

Contacts with Peruvian president to help Russia join interesting projects in Latin America

“I’ll note with satisfaction that the exchange of views confirmed common positions of Russia and Peru on many principled issues of the global agenda. Due to this, we agreed to more closely coordinate our efforts on the world arena,” Putin said.

The talks mainly focused on international issues, he said, adding that the meeting touched on cooperation of both countries within the APEC format. “Russia also showed interest in the joint work with Latin American integration structures,” Putin said.

The parties discussed joint steps towards counteracting drug trafficking. “There is the base for this. Russian specialists have opened training courses for drug policemen in South America in the Peruvian capital of Lima. Over 115 people from nine states have undergone training,” Putin said.

He said both countries had big plans in industrial cooperation. A joint venture to assemble buses is being set up with KAMAZ participation. AvtoVAZ takes good positions on the Peruvian market. Russian Helicopters promotes the Mi and Ka helicopters in Peru and the United Aircraft Corporation holds talks on supplies of civil aircraft.

Russia, Chile to Boost Cooperation on Agricultural Supplies: Kremlin's Spokesman

BEIJING, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet agreed to boost the countries' cooperation on agricultural supplies at a meeting in Beijing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday.

"Russia has made a proposal that [Chilean] agricultural producers should set competitive prices," Dmitry Peskov said adding "the leaders have agreed to cooperate."

Besides the agricultural partnership, the presidents discussed joint exploration of Antarctica, according to Peskov.

Over the past few months, the European Union and the United States have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis. The sanctions are mostly targeting Russia's largest banks, energy and defense companies, as well as some individuals.

In August, Russia responded with introducing a one-year ban on certain food imports, including meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables. Since crisis in Russia's relations with the West, Moscow has prompted its economic cooperation with the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

Russia to continue humanitarian and technical assistance to Nicaragua

Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house Valentina Matviyenko said on Wednesday at a meeting with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.

MANAGUA, January 14. /TASS/. Russia will continue to offer humanitarian assistance and technical aid to Nicaragua, speaker of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house Valentina Matviyenko said on Wednesday at a meeting with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.

Matviyenko reminded that last year Russia had delivered 25 tonnes of wheat to Nicaragua as humanitarian aid. Apart from that, it had supplied 200 tractors and ten combine harvesters to Nicaragua.

Apart from that, she said the Russian finance ministry was looking at issuing Russian government guarantees to secure Nicaragua’s top priority projects that would be determined by its president.

Matviyenko commended achievements of that Latin American country. “Despite the problems, we see that Nicaragua is developing as modern society, its economy and social sphere are developing, people’s wealth is growing and we are sincerely glad to see it,” she said.

Ambassador Says Producers To Start Exporting Bananas to Russia From Mexico

It will be very interesting when the import ban on EU and Northern American food imports expires whether there will be a demand to fill... they are clearly looking elsewhere for trade partners and finding them... will they want to go back to western sources?

Russia’s, Bolivia’s upper parliament houses to sign cooperation agreement in 2015

For the first time, at least in the 21st century, a Russian delegation took part in the inauguration ceremony of the Bolivian president

BOGOTA, January 24. /TASS/. Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house and Bolivia’s Senate plan to sign in 2015 an agreement on inter-parliamentary cooperation, Ilyas Umakhanov, deputy Federation Council speaker, told TASS after a visit to Bolivia to attend the inauguration ceremony of Bolivian President Evo Morales.

“For the first time, at least in the 21st century, a Russian delegation took part in the inauguration ceremony of the Bolivian president,” Umakhanov said. “It was a key purpose of our visit. Apart from that, we were tasked to invigorate Russian-Bolivian inter-parliamentary contact.”

“We met with the new speaker of the Senate of the Bolivia’s Plurinational Legislative Assembly Eugenio Rojas Apaza and handed over to him a message from /Russia’s Federation Council speaker/ Valentina Matviyenko, where she invited her colleague to visit Russia in 2015,” the Russian lawmaker said. “Rojas accepted this invitation and we agreed that when he came on a visit to Russia, we will sign a cooperation agreement between Russia’s Federation Council and Bolivia’s House of Senators.”

“We also agree to coordinate our efforts within other international formats, including the Latin American Parliament, which is actively cooperating with the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States /CIS/,” he underscored. “In the context of bilateral cooperation, an agreement was reached on keeping a parliamentary control over two major issues - mutual recognition of higher education diplomas and vise-free travels for the two countries’ citizens. Taking into account a stable growth in the number of Bolivian students at Russia’s universities, our parliaments should waste no time to prepare and ratify these documents.”.

Russia's Power Machines acquires 51% stake in Brazilian Fezer

Russia’s largest power plant engineering company has thus strengthened its presence in Latin American countries

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Power Machines, Russia’s largest power plant engineering company, acquired 51% of shares in Brazilian engineering firm Fezer in a move to strengthen its presence in Latin American countries, the company reported Monday.

The cost of the deal was not announced.

Fezer, founded in 1948, is focused on producing various types of woodworking machines. The new enterprise will change its name to Power Machines Fezer S/A.

Power Machines has international experience in the field of design, manufacture and complete delivery of the equipment for thermal, nuclear, hydraulic and gas-turbine power plants. 100% of the company’s shares are owned by structures of Russian businessman Aleksei Mordashov.

Russia's Return in Latin America to Erode US Global Leadership

Russia's military cooperation with the Central American states will erode US leadership and undermine its influence in the Western Hemisphere, claims an expert from the McClatchy DC News.

Russia's military cooperation with the Central American state of Nicaragua will undermine Washington's influence in the Western Hemisphere, experts claimed.

According to Tim Johnson, an expert in Latin America's affairs, Nicaragua is considering buying Russian MiG-29 fighter aircrafts in order to fight the drug trade in the region. However, Washington fears that the arms deal would become an "asymmetric response" to the US meddling in Ukraine and the Baltic states, right on the borders of the Russian Federation.

"Because of the US presence in countries abutting Russia, Russia may be looking to do the same in our region," noted Carlos Rivera Bianchini, president of the Foundation for Peace and Democracy in San Jose, Costa Rica, as cited by Tim Johnson.

Russia and the United States are currently the two largest weapons exporters in the world. While Washington is providing its weaponry to the Americas and Europe, Russia is selling its arms to Africa and Central Asia.

However, a potential arms deal with Nicaragua could seriously undermine the established balance, noted Jeremy Bender, a columnist on an American news website, adding that Russia may use the Central American country like its predecessor, the USSR, as a player against US influence.

"Russia is using power projection in an attempt to erode US leadership and challenge US influence in the Western Hemisphere," stressed General John Kelly, the head of US Southern Command in a congressional hearing on March 12, 2015, as quoted by Jeremy Bender.

It should be noted that Socialist Nicaragua and the Soviet Union collaborated closely until the collapse of the USSR. However, in 2007 relations between Nicaragua and the Russian Federation started improving after Jose Daniel Ortega Saavedra won the presidential election in the Central American country.

Since that time, Moscow boosted its cooperation with Managua, providing the country with 100,000 tons of wheat annually and bolstering bilateral programs aimed at fighting narcotics trafficking in the region. In September 2014 more than 45 Nicaraguan military cadets and officers left for extended military training in Russia.

Tim Johnson pointed to the fact that in February 2015 while in Managua, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed an agreement allowing Russia's warships to enter Nicaragua's ports. The expert reminded that in January the country was visited by the head of Russia's upper house of Parliament, while President Vladimir Putin made an official state visit to Nicaragua in June 2014. On March 25, 2015, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Nicaragua as part of a series of high-level Russian visits to the country.

Remarkably, last week Sergei Lavrov noted that Russia would mull taking part in the military protection of Nicaragua Canal construction works if Managua sent such a request to Moscow.

The Nicaragua Canal is meant to become a competitor to the US-controlled Panama Canal and is being constructed by the Chinese HKND Group (HK Nicaragua Canal Development Investment Co Ltd). The project has already sparked controversy among American experts, who fear that the new interoceanic route will undermine the US' geopolitical position in South America.

Meanwhile, Russia is strengthening its political and economic ties with its former Soviet allies, such as Cuba and Venezuela, as well as with other Latin American states. During the latest press-conference in Bogota Sergei Lavrov emphasized that Russia would welcome the integration between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Latin America's UNASUR (The Union of South American Nations), CELAC (The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) and other unions.

It should be also noted that Nicaragua, alongside Cuba and Venezuela, voted against a UN resolution to declare Crimea's independence referendum illegitimate.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20150325/1019992628.html#ixzz3VQWTAgK4

All Central American nations ready to develop cooperation with Russia — minister

GUATEMALA CITY, March 26. /TASS/. All the Central American countries are prepared to strengthen cooperation with Russia in a broad spectrum of spheres, Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales said on Thursday upon the end of negotiations with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.

"We’re going to strengthen our cooperation and I’m speaking not only on behalf of Guatemala but on behalf of all the Central American nations," Morales said.

He confirmed the reports that Russia will file an application for a non-regional observer status in the Central American Integration System (SICA) at the association’s conference underway in Guatemala.

"That’s a crucial meeting for us that will help build up our cooperative relations in all the spheres," Morales said.

SICA embraces Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and El Salvador.

Russia seeking observer status at Central American Integration System — FM

Honduras ports ready to receive Russian ships — foreign minister

Russia's FSB to assist Brazil in ensuring security at Rio Olympics

The terrorist threat at the future Olympics moved to a higher level after the terrorist acts committed by Islamic fundamentalists in Paris in January

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) will give assistance to the counterpart security agencies in Brazil in ensuring public security at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Yuri Nagornykh, the deputy minister of sports who chairs the commission for preparing Russian teams for the forthcoming Olympics told TASS on Thursday.

On Thursday, the commission devoted its regular meeting at the Ministry of Sports to preparations for the summer games in Brazil in 2016 and the winter games in South Korea in 2018.

"Extensive attention was given to ensuring the security of our really big delegation that will be staying Brazil for a long enough period of time," Nagornykh said. "That’s why FSB experts who will tackle the job in cooperation with Brazilian counterparts attended the meeting."

At the beginning of the year, the director of the antiterrorist department of Agencia Brasileira de Inteligencia (the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, ABIN), Luiz Alberto Sallaberry, admitted that the terrorist threat at the future Olympics had moved to a higher level after the terrorist acts committed by Islamic fundamentalists in Paris in January.

"We have no terrorist cells, but there are certain people who can lend assistance to such groups or aid logistically," he said in an interview with the Brazilian news portal G1.

Sallaberry said Brazilian security services were closely watching the lone wolves who did not belong to any particular terrorist grouping but were overwhelmed by extremist ideology.

"We are to host the Olympic Games (from August 5 to 21, 2016), bringing together athletes, high-ranking guests and fans from countries that have become priority targets for terrorists - all this increases the level of threat," said Sallaberry.

In February, a delegation of the Russian Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, and the Federal Medical and Biological Agency made a familiarization trip to Brazil.

"Our representatives visited all the OIympic facilities and now we have full understanding of the conditions in which the Olympic tournaments will be held," Nagornykh said. "Contacts with all officials of the Rio’2016 Organizing Committee were established."

"Proceeding from the data we received, we’ll adjust the issues related to the final stage of preparations for the Games," he said. "We’re working together with the sports federations in each Olympic sport to select facilities for the teams that would like to have the last phase of training right inside Brazil.".

Russian helicopter repair center in Peru to stimulate local industry - defense ministry

It will become a pole for the development of the aviation industry and a service center that will eventually develop into the infrastructure for joint production

BOGOTA, April 19. /TASS/. A Russian helicopter maintenance center, which will be set up in Peru, will help cut the expenses of Latin American countries on maintaining these rotocraft and develop the local industry, the Peruvian Defense Ministry said late on Saturday.

"It [the maintenance center] will become a pole for the development of the aviation industry [of Peru] and a service center that will eventually develop into the infrastructure for joint production," Peruvian Defense Minister Jakke Valakivi said after he personally inspected on Friday the site for the center’s construction.

"The countries of the region, which operate Russian helicopters, will be able to cut the cost and the time of repairs," he added.

The Russian helicopter maintenance center is currently at the stage of designing and is expected to come into operation in 2016.

The center will be located on an area of 500 hectares in the La Joya district in the Arequipa department close to an air base of the Peruvian Air Force.

Apart from their maintenance, Russian helicopters can be eventually assembled by specialists from Russia and Peru.

Moscow has been intensively developing cooperation with Peru lately. In 2011, Russia completed the delivery of six Mil Mi-171Sh combat transport helicopters and two Mi-35P attack helicopters. In 2013, Russia and Peru signed an agreement on the delivery of another 24 Russian Mi-171Sh helicopters to the Peruvian Air Force.

Peru has also Mi-8/17 and Mi-24/35 helicopters. About a hundred Soviet and Russian helicopters have been delivered to the Latin American country since the late 1970s.

The Peruvian army actively uses Russian helicopters for operations against drug barons in hard-to-access terrain, especially in the vast region known as the Apurimak, Ene and Mantaro river valley area where the Maoist guerilla organization Sendero Lumininoso is active.

Russia Establishes Satellite Ground Station on US Doorstep – German Media

Nicaraguan parliament ratified a treaty on space cooperation with Russia, which also authorizes the construction of ground-based stations for GLONASS, a global navigation satellite system designed to offer an alternative to the GPS.

Nicaragua is expected to use the system operated by the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces to monitor climate change and prevent natural disasters, in other words for peaceful purposes. "But the Obama administration may perceive a satellite system in the US 'front yard' only as a warning," said Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten.

"Earlier, Russians surprised Americans with photos of [US] spy satellites, causing confusion among the US military. The US Lacrosse radar satellite's motion was clearly documented at Russia’s Altay Optical Laser Center between 2005-2010," the media outlet said.

In 2012, Managua and Moscow signed an agreement on space cooperation, including construction of ground-based stations for GLONASS. The two countries are also negotiating an arms deal, under which Nicaragua plans to buy MiG-29 fighter jets and patrol boats from Russia.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/latam/20150502/1021637618.html#ixzz3YzRLmp9K

Ohhh noooo dem damn aggressive Russians putting ground tracking stations for the GLONASS satellites on the American continent!!!!!!

those aggressive mad b@strds!!

Except they are just tracking stations used to improve the accuracy of GLONASS... there have been Navstar stations in russia for decades improving the accuracy of GPS.

fortunately when the US refused to allow GLONASS stations in the US to improve accuracy of GLONASS the Russians threatened to remove the US stations in Russia... I wonder how that ended... does anyone know?

Are there Russian GLONASS stations in the US and are there US NAVSTAR stations in Russia right now?

(BTW German media used to be something respectable... now it is rubbish.)

(BTW German media used to be something respectable... now it is rubbish.)

That times are long gone, today they are just spewing whatever Springer Verlag tells them same with the rest of controlled media.

Ecuador to Revise All Agreements Signed With Russia in Past 20 Years

Ecuador plans to revise all the agreements the country has signed with Russia in the past 20 years in order to work more actively on the most important contracts and abandon the unnecessary ones, new Ecuadoran ambassador to Russia Julio Cesar Prado Espinosa told Sputnik Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ambassador added also that he would work on sustaining productive relations between Russia and Ecuador, as well as on boosting exports to Russia, which currently amount to $1.4 billion.

“We have a lot of agreements signed in the past 15-20 years that ‘are sleeping like a log.’ So we have decided to revive all of these to decide what works and what doesn’t work. What we have signed and we would like to maintain and what we would not want to. So my first mission is to conduct a global revision of these contracts,” he said.

“We are the second-largest country in Latin America in terms of selling products to Russia after Brazil. This is very significant for such a small country like Ecuador… This means that Russia has an important space for Ecuador and recognizes Ecuador as an important strategic partner.”

The Russia-Ecuador inter-governmental commission, established in 1981 but inactive until 2009, will convene for a third time in Moscow on May 19-20.

The commission includes five working groups focused on different areas of cooperation, including economy, energy, agriculture, education, science and technology, as well as technical-military cooperation.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150512/1022058589.html#ixzz3Zx38izCN

"Because of the US presence in countries abutting Russia, Russia may be looking to do the same in our region," noted Carlos Rivera Bianchini, president of the Foundation for Peace and Democracy in San Jose, Costa Rica, as cited by Tim Johnson.

Freakin idiots...

It has nothing to do with the US presence in countries near Russia... and everything to do with US pressure on the EU and former warsaw pact countries and the Ukraine that Russia USED to trade with who now don't want anything to do with Russia that has forced Russia to look to other places to trade with... shock horror... they looked elsewhere to trade... imagine that... they didn't just curl up and die... amazing.

If the US wants someone to blame then it should look at itself... not only has it pushed Russia into looking for new trading partners, but its treatment of the countries to its south has pushed them away from the US as a trading partner... of course they will be interested in trading with a country not out to screw them and hold them back.