Russia Opens Cuba Cultural Center

HAVANA TIMES, Feb. 13 — The Russian government will open on Saturday a cultural center in Cuba, the first of its kind in Latin America, to promote the learning of the Russian language, said its director, Viasheslav Nikonov.  The institution will operate at the Jose Marti National Library near the Plaza of the Revolution in Havana.

Many Cubans studied Russian in the decades before the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the USSR was the island’s leading trade partner.

Meanwhile, in the Cuban capital President Raul Castro and Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov met on Friday to discuss bilateral relations, especially economic.  The two leaders also attended the opening of the 19^th Cuba International Book Fair on Thursday at the San Carlos de la Cabaña colonial fortress turned venue for important cultural events.