MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov met with Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and handed over eight motorcycles to the Cuban firefighting service, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said.
"The parties noted the importance of strengthening Russian-Cuban relations. The president of Cuba thanked Russia for training relevant personnel at the regional Russian-Cuban center for training fire protection and rescue specialists," the ministry said in a statement on its website on Thursday.
Kurenkov handed over eight fire motorcycles, "which are effective in an urban environment", to Cuban rescuers, it said.
"Nearly 2.5 million people live in Cuba's capital. The traffic in the city is serious. This maneuverable transport will help promptly reach the scene of a fire or a road accident and start combating the blaze before the main forces arrive," Kurenkov said.
He also inspected rescuers' training at the Russian-Cuban center. At the center, Cuban firefighters learn to operate unmanned aerial vehicles and Russian special hardware and equipment, Kurenkov said.
Kurenkov also discussed training programs for specialists with Cuban Interior Minister Lazaro Alvarez.
"Today, instructors from universities of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry are providing short-term training courses for Cuban specialists on the center's premises. We plan to add another four training programs next year: combating fires at oil depots and medical support for firefighting and rescue operations," he said.
"Besides, Russian rescuers are helping Cuba's national search and rescue detachment to prepare for an evaluation based on the methodology of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG)," the statement said.
There are vast prospects for further joint work, the statement cited the sides as saying.
"The agreements that have been reached will give fresh impetus to the consistent development of our interaction, including the exchange of useful practices, and education cooperation," Alvarez said.
"The Russian emergency situations minister also familiarized himself with the work of fire brigades of the Cuban Interior Ministry. Humanitarian cargo, including water filters, medical bags, food, medicines, and stationery, from [the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation] Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian Humanitarian Mission and the Foundation of Saint Michael the Archangel was additionally handed over to the Cuban side," the statement said.