Moscow, May 11 --(EFE)-- Russian and Cuba will sign a new economic
cooperation agreement during a meeting between their respective trade ministers
in Moscow, a Kremlin official said Tuesday.

According to a Russian Trade Ministry spokesman, the signing of the accord on
Wednesday will be the highlight of the third meeting of the Russo-Cuban
economic and trade cooperation committee.

A Cuban diplomat in Moscow told EFE that Trade Minister Ricardo Cabrizas
would arrive on Tuesday to head Havana's delegation for the negotiations.

Cabrizas is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, the
diplomat said.

Russian officials said the talks would decide ib the creation of a bilateral
mechanism to finish the construction of the first block of the Juragua nuclear plant
in Cuba.

The two panels are also to discuss the possibile participation of Russian
companies in finishing a nickel factory in Cuba.

Trade between Russia and Cuba, mostly in Russian oil and Cuban sugar, reached
604 million dollars in 1998. EFE

tom/wdp

05/11/10-36/99 05/11/11-05/99

                     Copyright 1999 Miami Herald