by Staff Reporter
May 27, 2013 (TSR) – The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend the second meeting on May 29 with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the expanded CELAC troika (Cuba, Chile, Costa Rica and Haiti), chaired this year by Cuba, the Russian Foreign Office confirmed today.
The event will be held in the spirit of the agreements reached during the meeting prior to that level between Russia and the troika of CELAC, in New York, in 2012, when he signed a joint statement, noted the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Lukashevich.
The foreign ministers of Cuba, Chile, Costa Rica, Haiti and Russia, as host country, discussed the prospects of political dialogue at the bilateral format, with the possibilities of expanding trade and economic cooperation and cultural exchanges and humanitarian, according to the Russian spokesperson.
There will be an exchange of views on key issues of international importance, he added.
Russia hopes to elaborate a joint weighty document to reflect the harmony of approaches of CELAC countries to problems of the modern world order and international agenda.
The Foreign Ministry highlights the CELAC as the first and most representative group of 33 Latin American and Caribbean nations without the presence of the United States and Canada on a platform that merged socio-economic agendas and foreign policy in the region.
Stresses strong international positions of the organization, founded in 2010, upon initiative of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in which approaches foster close relationship such as to Russia, on the principles of multipolarity, supremacy of international law and strengthening the central role of the UN.
Lukashevich noted that Russia and CELAC also reject the use of force in solving international problems and interference in the internal affairs of States such as Syria.
Just like Russia, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) have always consistently stressed the need to reach a peaceful and permanent solution to the crisis in Syria without unjustified foreign interference. They have underlined the importance of stopping violence and starting a comprehensive political process led by the Syrians according to the Geneva Communiqué of June 2012 which is also supported by the international community.
At the end of the meeting, on 29 May, Russia and CELAC is expected to sign a joint statement of principles, and their common positions.
Foreign Minister Lavrov will receive the next day his counterpart Bruno Rodriguez, who will hold official talks in the context of bilateral visit made by the Cuban foreign minister, Lukashevich said.
The 33-country organization seeks to become the main regional mechanism of political dialogue and cooperation of CELAC members to counterbalance the Organization of American States (OAS).
