Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Cuba to revive ties with the former Soviet Union's Cold War ally on the last leg of his tour to boost Russia's reach in Latin America. Mr Medvedev was due to meet Cuban president Raul Castro and visit a new Russian-Orthodox cathedral in Havana on the last stop in a four-nation trip that included Peru, Brazil and Venezuela.It was unclear whether Mr Medvedev, on the first visit by a Russian leader to Cuba since 2000, would also meet ailing former president Fidel Castro, 82.Mr Medvedev's Latin America tour primarily sought to boost trade, despite the global economic downturn, but was also seen as a rebuff to US moves to install missile defence facilities in former Communist-ruled parts of Europe.The Russian leader arrived from Venezuela, where he signed a string of accords, including a nuclear energy deal, with left-wing president Hugo Chavez.
Mr Medvedev was due to meet Cuban president Raul Castro and visit a new Russian-Orthodox cathedral in Havana on the last stop in a four-nation trip that included Peru, Brazil and Venezuela.
It was unclear whether Mr Medvedev, on the first visit by a Russian leader to Cuba since 2000, would also meet ailing former president Fidel Castro, 82.
Mr Medvedev's Latin America tour primarily sought to boost trade, despite the global economic downturn, but was also seen as a rebuff to US moves to install missile defence facilities in former Communist-ruled parts of Europe.
The Russian leader arrived from Venezuela, where he signed a string of accords, including a nuclear energy deal, with left-wing president Hugo Chavez.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened his visit to Caracas with the signing of a nuclear energy deal that will deepen Moscow's ties with left-leaning Venezuela.The nuclear cooperation accord involves civilian and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Mr Medvedev, who arrived on Wednesday for the first visit by a Russian head of state to Venezuela, received an ornate welcome featuring spear-wielding soldiers singing the two countries' anthems in a palace courtyard decorated with palm trees, fountains and statues of classical gods. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was first to propose nuclear cooperation with Venezuela when Mr Chavez visited Moscow in September. The nuclear deal coincides with joint Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises about to begin in the Caribbean, which Washington dismissed as insignificant.
The nuclear cooperation accord involves civilian and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Mr Medvedev, who arrived on Wednesday for the first visit by a Russian head of state to Venezuela, received an ornate welcome featuring spear-wielding soldiers singing the two countries' anthems in a palace courtyard decorated with palm trees, fountains and statues of classical gods.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was first to propose nuclear cooperation with Venezuela when Mr Chavez visited Moscow in September.
The nuclear deal coincides with joint Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises about to begin in the Caribbean, which Washington dismissed as insignificant.
