Nicaragua and Russia
Discuss Closer Ties
Nicaragua and Russia
have announced broader
cooperation in military
matters which is now
limited to repair of
aircraft and replacement
of tank motors purchased
during the Sandinista
administration of the
1980's.
"I believe we are going
to expand or could
expand relations with
the Russians" said the
chief of the military,
general Omar
Halleslevens, during
celebrations of the Día
del Soldado de la
Patria.
"We have had continued
relations with the
Russians, it is historic
as the have maintained a
permanent military
mission" the general
said.
Halleslevens currently
repair the Russian built
MI-17 helicopters used
by the Nicaraguan air
force and provide
regular maintenance work
on the MB-21 tanks.
"Daily new possibilities
have opened by a
Nicaraguan commission to
Russia that has been led
by foreign minister
Samuel Santos",
Halleslevens added.
A military mission led
by major general, Ramón
Calderón Vindel,
recently visited Russia
to form a basis for
discussion on the
subject.
The former Soviet Union
supplied Nicaragua in
the 1980's with some
2.000 missiles to the
Sandinista government.
So far only half of the
missiles have been
destroyed under pressure
from the United States
fearing they could fall
in the hands of
terrorists.
The Nicaraguan army says
it needs to maintain at
least 400 missiles for
the country to maintain
a balance in Central
America. |
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