Morales calls for Russia's 'return' to Latin America

Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced plans for an April visit to Russia by his cabinet ministers to expand military and industrial ties with the former superpower, calling for Russia's “return to Latin America."

"The delegation will include heads of leading ministries, who are to discuss and sign intergovernmental agreements with their Russian colleagues," Morales said after returning to the Bolivian capital La Paz from Venezuela, where he visited Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, reported Ria Novosti.

"We take as a premise that Russia should return to Latin America, and that is why [we] are positively seeking to expand diplomatic, economic, and trade relations with Moscow," the Bolivian leader said ahead of the April 24 tour of Moscow by Bolivian officials.

Morales told journalists following his meeting with the Russian premier that Moscow was ready to extend loans of up to $100 million to Bolivia in order to allow the Andean nation to purchase Russian helicopters for anti-narcotics efforts.

Putin wrapped up his trip to Venezuela on Friday after discussing a range of military and industrial issues with Caracas, including a promise to help the country acquire nuclear energy.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122437§ionid=351020706.