Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Russian president visits Mexico

Two accounts of Putin’s visit to Mexico, the first highlights military aspects the second international parallels.

-Am

Monday, June 7, 2004 · Last updated 7:41 a.m. PT

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY -- Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to Mexico on Monday for talks with his Mexican counterpart, who has said he hoped to increase military cooperation with Moscow.

The Putin visit was the first by a Russian head of state since the countries established diplomatic relations in 1891, said Agustin Gutierrez, a spokesman for President Vicente Fox.

Also on the agenda were law-enforcement and financial issues, Mexican officials said.

Fox said last week Mexico hoped it would begin assembling some Russian helicopters and importing a mixed civilian-military factory.

Fox and Putin were expected to sign minor agreements on transferring prisoners, the elimination of double taxes on rent, foreign investment and cultural exchanges.

On military matters, Fox has said possible projects include the installation of a large maintenance center for helicopters as the first step in a plan to assemble the Russian aircraft in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.



The Mexican president said he also hoped to sign an agreement with Putin for a plant that would assemble heavy machinery for the military industry, saying such a factory would be constructed in Ciudad Sahagun, 50 miles northeast of Mexico City.

Mexico largely spurned Russian military equipment during the Cold War, but has begun to adopt some Russian armaments, which are less expensive than those sold by the United States or most European suppliers.

Mexico's Air Force and Navy operate at least 56 Russian-made transport helicopters, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story.asp?category=1102&slug=Mexico%20Putin



Putin in First Official Mexico Visit by Russian Leader
Created: 07.06.2004 17:37 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 18:00 MSK, 2 hours 2 minutes ago

MosNews

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Mexico Monday in the first official visit of a president to the country since diplomatic relations were established over 100 years ago, Russian media reported.

Putin is expected to hold talks with his counterpart, Vincente Fox. The presidents will sign joint documents and give a press conference, Itar-Tass reported. The visit is expected to last one day.

Fox will likely ask Russia to join a recently formed coalition group supporting Iraq’s democratic and sovereign development that already includes France, Germany, Spain, Chile, and Mexico.

“Mexico and Russia have common approaches to international problems,” Russia’s Pravda daily quoted the Mexican president as saying. “We understand the necessity of building a multi-polar world, share similar views of further developments in Iraq and enjoy joint experiences on this problem.”

“We have much in common. Our economies are based on energy and trade and both countries are winning world markets. The Russian and Mexican governments focus on social development and work to eliminate poverty,” he noted.

Fox pointed to discussions on specific long term projects that he has on the agenda, Pravda reported. “During the first-ever visit to Mexico by a Russian president we are to discuss the construction of a heavy engineering center in the State of Hidalgo for the needs of our military industry, transport and building,” the Mexican leader said during his trip to Hidalgo on Sunday.

On Tuesday, President Putin will continue his foreign tour, which began on Sunday in Normandy, where he attended festivities marking the 60th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy on D-Day — June 6, 1944

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/06/07/mexico.shtml