Russia Backs Cuba in Fight Against US Blockad

Moscow, Nov 30. -Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Serguei Riabkov reiterated on Tuesday his country's support for the Cuban struggle against the U.S. economic, trade and financial blockade, which he called an anachronistic policy.

During a meeting with Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon at the Foreign Ministry, the two sides referred to their collaboration in the international sphere and their coinciding positions.

The two officials also reaffirmed efforts to strengthen bilateral links.

As part of his official one-week visit to this country, Alarcon planned to visit Lenin's Mausoleum in Red Square on Tuesday and meet with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.

On Wednesday, Alarcon will travel to St. Petersburg, to meet with leaders of that city and the Leningrad region and visit sites of historic and cultural interest.

The Cuban Parliament president held talks Tuesday at the State Duma (the lower house) with his Russian counterpart, Boris Grizlov, whom he invited to visit Cuba.

Previously, Alarcon met with Ivan Melnikov, deputy speaker of the State Duma and member of the Russian Federation Communist Party Central Committee, and discussed the need to raise the level of trade between their two nations. (Prensa Latina)