Russia and Bolivia FM's to discuss ways to widen, diversify coop'n

MOSCOW, May 24 (Itar-Tass) - Ways to widen and diversify cooperation
between the Russian Federation (RF) and Bolivia will be discussed here on
Tuesday by the Foreign ministers of the two countries, Sergei Lavrov and
David Choquehuanca.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said earlier,
"We regard this visit as an important step in futher development of the
political dialogue". He said, "A Joint ministerial statement is to be
signed as a result of the talks".
Experts believe that there are substantial prospects for interaction
between the two countries, in the gas sector, in particular. A Memorandum
of Understanding was signed in February 2007 between Gazprom and the State
Oil and Gas Company of Bolivia. The Memorandum envisages cooperation in
the the field of prospecting for, production and processing of
hydrocarbons. In September 2008 Gazprom acceded to the agreement on joint
geological prospecting work at Bolivia's oil and gas fields. The Russian
Ministry of Energy and the Bolivian Ministry of Oil and Gas Resources
signed a memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation in the gas
sector.
Analysts do not rule it out that at the upcoming talks in Moscow the
Ministers will discuss further steps to invigorate the dialogue on energy.
Lukashevich said, "Apart from a bilateral agenda, the Ministers will
also discuss prospects for broadening versatile cooperation between Russia
and the integrational institutions of Latin America and the Caribbean, to
which Bolivia is a party and with which the RF develops contacts
(MERCOSUR, UNASUR)".
The programme for Davis Choquehuanca's visit also provides for
meetings in the committees on international affairs of the Federation
Council and the State Duma upper and lower houses of the Russian
parliament.