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| Russia's Vladimir Putin tours Latin America | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Latin America in an apparent bid to seek allies to counter US and Western influence. | Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Latin America in an apparent bid to seek allies to counter US and Western influence. |
| He spent Friday in Cuba - the first stop of his tour - before making an unexpected visit to Nicaragua, the first by a Russian leader. | |
| Mr Putin is now in Argentina, where he will meet left-wing regional heads of state. | |
| He goes onto Brazil to attend the football World Cup final on Sunday. | |
| Russia will host the next tournament in 2018. | |
| Later Mr Putin will attend a summit of the Brics emerging economies - also including India, China and South Africa - in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza. | |
| 'Grateful for support' | 'Grateful for support' |
| Mr Putin has been holding bilateral talks with Argentinian President Christina Fernandez. | |
| Correspondents say Argentina is desperate for foreign investment as it faces a possible default after investors rejected its debt restructuring. | |
| The Russian president will then have dinner with other South American leaders including the presidents of Venezuela, Bolivia and Uruguay. | |
| "Today, co-operation with Latin American states is one of the key and promising lines of Russia's foreign policy," Mr Putin told Cuban state media. | "Today, co-operation with Latin American states is one of the key and promising lines of Russia's foreign policy," Mr Putin told Cuban state media. |
| "We are grateful to South Americans for the support of our international initiatives," the Russian leader added. | "We are grateful to South Americans for the support of our international initiatives," the Russian leader added. |
| Mr Putin is looking to tighten ties with this region, partly to balance a slump in relations with the West over Russia's intervention in Ukraine, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Havana reports. | Mr Putin is looking to tighten ties with this region, partly to balance a slump in relations with the West over Russia's intervention in Ukraine, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Havana reports. |
| He is stressing support for a strong and united Latin America, as part of what he calls a "multi-polar world", our correspondent adds. | He is stressing support for a strong and united Latin America, as part of what he calls a "multi-polar world", our correspondent adds. |
| Mr Putin and Cuban President Raul Castro visited a cemetery in the Cuban capital to commemorate Soviet soldiers. | |
| He later met Fidel Castro, who led Cuba for nearly half a century before handing over power to his brother, Raul, in 2006 because of ill health. | He later met Fidel Castro, who led Cuba for nearly half a century before handing over power to his brother, Raul, in 2006 because of ill health. |
| Russian media said they discussed international relations and Russian-Cuban ties. | Russian media said they discussed international relations and Russian-Cuban ties. |
| 'Emerging world order' | 'Emerging world order' |
| Mr Putin was also expected to discuss the progress of an agreement signed last year which cancels 90% of Cuba's $35.2bn Soviet-era debt to Russia and channels the remaining 10% into joint investment projects in the country. | Mr Putin was also expected to discuss the progress of an agreement signed last year which cancels 90% of Cuba's $35.2bn Soviet-era debt to Russia and channels the remaining 10% into joint investment projects in the country. |
| The deal was ratified by the upper house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday. | The deal was ratified by the upper house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday. |
| Relations between Cuba and Russia declined after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 but have improved in recent years. | Relations between Cuba and Russia declined after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 but have improved in recent years. |
| Russia is involved in oil exploration offshore and began drilling a development well last year. | Russia is involved in oil exploration offshore and began drilling a development well last year. |
| Mr Putin said Russian companies were interested in investing in reinforced plastic products, car parts and heavy equipment for the railway industry. | Mr Putin said Russian companies were interested in investing in reinforced plastic products, car parts and heavy equipment for the railway industry. |
| Mr Putin will attend the World Cup final in Brazil on Sunday as head of the next host nation. | |
| In an interview on the eve of his trip, the Russian president said Brazil was one of a group of emerging countries which should play a greater role on the world stage. | In an interview on the eve of his trip, the Russian president said Brazil was one of a group of emerging countries which should play a greater role on the world stage. |
| "This powerful and fast-developing country is destined to play an important role in the emerging polycentric world order," he said, adding that Russia would back Brazil's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. | "This powerful and fast-developing country is destined to play an important role in the emerging polycentric world order," he said, adding that Russia would back Brazil's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. |