Saint Petersburg, Russia.- Russia on Tuesday denounced the persistent efforts of the United States to impose regime change, including by use of force, in Latin America, and reaffirmed its intention to develop ties with each country in the region.

Speaking at the opening session of the 4th Russia-Ibero-America Forum, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov pointed out that alarming developments are taking place in Latin America and the Caribbean.

That includes, above all, pressure from the West, especially from Washington, on countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, which includes Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, among other States, to impose violent change, he noted.

Russia views such practices as an attempt to ride roughshod over the norms of International Law, including non-interference in the internal affairs of countries and respect for sovereignty, the deputy Foreign minister added.

In that regard, Riabkov told Prensa Latina that Russia strongly condemns the latest punitive measures adopted by the United States to tighten the blockade against Cuba, and stated that Washington is increasingly discredited due to its use of such measures.

The efforts to achieve changes in Cuba illegally, to force the country to abandon its path of independence, have been unsuccessful, and rejection of Washington’s policy around the world has increased. We hope that sooner or later, those responsible for this policy will understand this, he pointed out.