Russia-Pork from Nicaragua.

RUSSIA.

PORK IMPORTS FROM NICARAGUA.

The head of the Russian Federal Agency of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision , Sergey Dankvert, has been in meeting with his counter part in Nicaragua, Ariel Bucardo, in relation to increasing the export of farm produce from Nicaragua to Russia.

The Russian government have a particular interest in the fledgling pork industry, that now exports pork to the USA, Japan, China and South Korea. The move appears to have political overtones, as it would ease the dependence on US pork and also establish Russia in Central America, where they have been conspicuous by their absence since the end of the cold war.

Russian meat inspectors will be visiting the country early in January, to inspect and license meat plants for export accreditation to Russia. The minister said that meat from Nicaragua was among the safest in Latin America, also that he was confident serious trading would begin early in 2009.

Meanwhile ships from the Russian Northern Fleet, arrived in Havana on Friday as part of the Russian Navy’s first visit to Cuba since the end of the cold war. A 21 gun salute was fired by one of the destroyers, that was returned by the Cuban military from the shore..

.