"We do not believe in the sanction and blockade policy. It is just as counter-productive as pressure in matters of humanitarian content," he stressed.
Whatever problems there are ought to be settled through dialogue. "As for Russia, it is calling for a dialogue based on mutual respect, clean of double standards, and free of imposing an excessive political purport on the available issues."
International terrorism is a "global evil", and team efforts alone can cope with it, Mr. Lavrov went on. He highlighted stances shared by Russia and Cuba on the combat against terrorism and other global challenges-suffice it to name poverty, disease and illiteracy.
The minister thanked the Cuban top and the entire nation for solidarity with Russia as it came through a heinous terror act in Beslan.
Russia and Cuba share stances on a majority of international issues, and their bilateral contacts have an impressive historical background, Mr. Lavrov went on.
He hopes the Havana negotiations will settle the issues the two countries are facing. Of these, the Foreign Minister highlighted promotion of trade, other economic contacts, and partnership in education, health services, culture and other fields.
Sergei Lavrov addressed Russian journalists before the negotiations. As he said, "Moscow counts on this visit to promote our political dialogue and commercial and economic contacts, which have subsided, somewhat. Now we are working to repair the omission.
"The progress of our trade and economic ties is gaining pace. However, opportunities by far exceed what we are doing now. That concerns trade and, even more so, joint ventures and other patterns of investment partnership.
"Russia is regarding the chances for a political impetus to implement [Cuban-based] economic projects with Russian corporate participation-in particular, engine manufacture, automotive transport, mineral resource extraction, and power industry."
