Itar-Tass
October 31, 2013
Nicaragua, Russia sign memorandum of international security cooperation
MEXICO CITY: Another step in the strengthening of relations between Nicaragua and Russia has been made – during a visit to this Central American country of a Russian delegation headed by Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev. The sides held negotiations on Wednesday and signed a memorandum of cooperation, which will allow the two countries to coordinate positions on the main problems of international security.
“I am confident that the signed memorandum will promote cooperation between our two countries,” Patrushev said at a meeting with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. From the Nicaraguan side the document was signed by the country’s army Commander in Chief Julio Cesar Aviles.
Patrushev noted that thanks to the memorandum, consultations between the High Command and the Army of Nicaragua and Russia’s Security Council “will now be conducted on permanent basis.” “This will allow us to coordinate positions on the most pressing issues of international security,” stressed the Russian official.
Patrushev said during a meeting with Ortega that the document, approved by both sides, would make it possible to “expand cooperation” between Russia and Nicaragua. He stressed that this republic “is currently playing a major role in the Central American region, not only because of its geographical location, but also because of the policy pursued by the current government of the country.”
Russia’s Security Council secretary noted that “Nicaragua is an important partner and friend of Russia in Latin America,” pointing to the coincidence of views of the two countries’ authorities “on many issues.”
Patrushev also expressed gratitude to the Nicaraguan government for supporting the position of the Russian Federation, which was the first to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “I am confident that Nicaragua has set a good example to be followed by other countries,” said the Russian official.
Ortega for his part expressed satisfaction with the results of the Russian delegation’s visit to Nicaragua. “We have worked and will continue to work with the Russian Federation with a view to maintaining peace, stability and security of our peoples,” said the Nicaraguan leader.
Ortega once again expressed his support for Russia’s initiative on the settlement of the recent acute crisis in Syria. At the same time he pointed to the “historical ties that exist between Moscow and Managua.” “We are very grateful and very much appreciate the Russian people’s support of our country,” the Nicaraguan president said.
At the meeting the Nicaraguan leader welcomed the arrival in the country of two Russian strategic bombers Tupolev Tu-160, which on Wednesday landed at Augusto Sandino International Airport of the Nicaraguan capital. The visit aims to “maintain peace and stability,” said Ortega.
Before arriving in Managua, the Russian Tu-160 planes visited the capital of Venezuela – Caracas, having made a 13-hour non-stop flight from Russia. The crews of the military aircraft performed flights over the Caribbean Sea, conducting research related to aircraft operation in a tropical climate.
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Interfax
October 31, 2013
Russia and Nicaragua sign cooperation memorandum
MEXICO CITY: Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and Nicaragua’s Armed Forces Commander General Julio Cesar Aviles Castillo have signed a memorandum of cooperation, the EFE news agency reported on Thursday.
“I am convinced that this memorandum will help further promote our relations and cooperation in military issues,” Patrushev said at a meeting with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega in Managua.
He said that from now on, consultations between the Russian Security Council and representatives of Nicaragua’s Armed Forces Command would be held regularly.
“They [consultations] will enable us to better coordinate our approaches to the main issues of international security,” he said.
Patrushev also said at the meeting with Ortega that “today the Republic of Nicaragua is playing a leading role in Latin America.”
“This is happening both thanks to [Nicaragua's] geographical location and the policies pursued by the government of this country,” he said.
Patrushev also described Nicaragua as “an important ally and friend for the Russian Federation in Latin America.”
“We see eye to eye on numerous issues. We highly value Nicaragua’s decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states,” he said.
Nicaragua’s president, for his part, welcomed the results of his meeting with the visiting Russian delegation.
“We have always been working with the Russian Federation for the benefit of our people’s peace, stability and security,’ he said.
Ortega said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had sent him a letter, in which the Russian leader reaffirmed his “readiness to continue to work together with our country.”
Ortega also supported Putin’s peace initiative for Syria and reiterated the importance of further promoting ties between Nicaragua and Russia.
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Itar-Tass
October 31, 2013
Two Russian supersonic strategic bombers Tu-160 fly transit mission from Venezuela to Nicaragua
MOSCOW: In accordance with the Plan for the Operational Training of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Air Force, two supersonic strategic missile-carrying bombers Tu-160 have made a flight from the Venezuelan Maiquetia airfield to Managua airfield in Nicaragua.
An official in the press-service and information department of the Russian Defence Ministry said Thursday, the two aircraft “flew over neuatral waters of the Caribbean Sea, after which they entered the air space of the Republic of Nicaragua and made a routine landing”.
During the transit mission, the aircraft covered a distance of more than 2,500 km. The duration of the transit flight was about three hours.
All flights of the aircraft of the Russian AF are made strictly in line with the International Rules for the use of air space, the department official pointed out.
The missile-carrying aircraft Tu-160 had taken off from the Engels airbase in Saratov Region, and made the flight in accordance with the Plan for the Operational Training of Long-Range Aviation. They flew over the Caribbean and Eastern part of the Pacific Ocean, along the south-western coast of North America and made the first landing at Maiquetia airfield in Nicaragua. They made a 13-hour nonstop flight from Russia, covering a distance of 10,000 km. When flying over the territory of Norway, the aircraft were escorted by two Norwegian fighter planes F-16 that scrambled from Bodo airf base.
At Maiquetia airfied, the crews of the aircraft were greeted on behalf of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the Republic’s Defence Minister Carmen Melendez.
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