Ortega visits Russian counterpart Medvedev; US state dept reax скачать в хорошем качестве

Ortega visits Russian counterpart Medvedev; US state dept reax

(18 Dec 2008) Agency Pool Moscow, Russia 1. Wide exterior of Kremlin 2. Wide of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shaking hands with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega 3. Medvedev and Ortega entering meeting room for talks 4. Cutaway of media 5. Wide of meeting 6. Close of Ortega speaking 7. Mid of Medvedev speaking at meeting, pan across table to Ortega 8. Mid of Medvedev signing agreement 9. Mid of Ortega signing agreement 10. Mid of officials 11. Wide of Medvedev and Ortega shaking hands, exchanging signed documents 12. Audience applauding 13. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President: "I would like to thank on this occasion our Nicaraguan partners for their position of recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This decision will help to strengthen international law. We respect the law and consider that our position shows our countries are in step with the international situation and international relations in general." 14. Cutaway of media 15. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Daniel Ortega, Nicaraguan President: "And for people and the government of South Ossetia and the people and the government of Abkhazia ... I'm sure that in the near future we will visit these two countries, brothers of the people and the government of Nicaragua." 16. Wide of audience 17. Mid of Medvedev and Ortega shaking hands UPSOUND: audience applause DOS TV Washington, DC 18. Wide of US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack walking to podium for briefing 19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sean McCormack, US State Department spokesman: "We're up to Hamas and Nicaragua recognising them, excuse me, Russia (++corrected by a reporter in the audience++). I think we've made our views clear on this issue. It's not a constructive act." 20. Cutaway of reporter 21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sean McCormack, US State Department spokesman: "No, it's not constructive." (Reporter Q: "Why not?") "Why not? Because there's a process that is still ongoing in Geneva (inaudible) recently went to Geneva to continue this political process that was started as a result of the agreement between President Sarkozy and President Medvedev." 22. Mid of reporters STORYLINE: The presidents of Russia and Nicaragua found common ground in criticising US policies on Thursday, as the Kremlin hosted Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega in its latest effort to increase Russian clout in Latin America. The two oversaw the signing of several trade agreements, but with Russia's economy now in a tailspin, Moscow's ability to project power to the Western Hemisphere has been sharply curtailed, forcing it to shelve exotic projects like building a duplicate Panama Canal in Nicaragua. Russia instead extended moral rather than financial support in an ornate Kremlin meeting hosted by President Dmitry Medvedev. Nicaragua signalled its intention to draw closer to Russia when it recognised the independence of two Russian-backed breakaway provinces in neighbouring Georgia, the only other country aside from Russia to do so. Medvedev thanked Ortega for the support and Ortega said Nicaraguan officials planned to visit the breakaway regions soon. Ortega and Medvedev criticised US policies, a familiar topic when former Cold War allies from South America visit Moscow. Both governments' statements were dismissed by US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. Ortega's trip to Moscow followed a four-day visit by Russian naval ships to Nicaragua that ended on Monday. The ships are due to arrive on Thursday in Cuba, the first visit by Russia's navy there since the Soviet breakup in 1991. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...