Russia to help build Cuba's space centre

London, Sep 18: After talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials, Russia's space agency chief has said that Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space centre. According to a report in New Scientist, Russia has stepped up efforts to develop closer links with both countries, which are ideological enemies of Washington, including sending Russian strategic bombers on a mission to Venezuela this month.

"We have held preliminary discussions about the possibility of creating a space centre in Cuba with our help," Anatoly Perminov, the chief of Russia's Federal Space Agency, was quoted as saying in Caracas by Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.

"With our Cuban colleagues, we discussed the possibilities of joint use of space equipment and the joint use of space communications systems," he added.

Russian officials have said they want to renew Cuban ties that were neglected after the Soviet Union's collapse.

ANI