Russian naval fleet arrives at Havana's harbour

Описание: (3 Aug 2013) SHOTLIST
AP TELEVISION
1. Wide of the Russian "Moskva" missile cruiser entering Havana harbour and passing in front of El Morro Castle
2. Wide of Cuban cannon salute as ship enters harbour
3. Wide of the Moskva entering the harbour
4. Pull out to wide of sailors standing to attention on the Moskva
5. Mid of people watching from the Malecon, Havana's seafront avenue
6. Mid of the ship's communication tower with Russian and Cuban flags
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) vox pop, Valdomero Carroteguas, Havana Resident:
"This is a good reception; it's great to receive them. We Cubans were for a long time allied to them, and we still are their allies."
8. Mid of Asian delegation with Cuban military officer taking group picture
9. Wide of people walking on the pier with the Russian ship in the background
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) vox pop, Emilio Nunez, Havana Resident:
"We have always had Russian military visitors. From Russia to Cuba and Cuba to Russia. We hope relations will continue (between both countries). This is good, this is very important."
11. Wide of the Russian destroyer "Vice Admiral Kulakov" entering Havana Harbour with Morro Castle in the background
12. Mid of control tower and flags on the Kulakov
13. Wide of the ship's helipad with Russian sailors
14. Pan right of ships at dock with people observing them
15. Wide of both ships docked, Russian tanker "Ivan Bubnov" visible in the background
STORYLINE
A Russian naval task force arrived in Havana harbour on Saturday for a five-day visit led by Russia's Black Sea Fleet flagship missile cruiser, the "Moskva".
Hundreds of people turned out along Havana's seafront road, the Malecon, to watch the ships come in.
Young and old waved and cheered as the vessels pulled into port while being saluted by military cannons.
"This is a good reception; it's great to receive them," said Valdomero Carroteguas, a 44-year-old Havana resident who came to see the event with his girlfriend.
"We Cubans were for a long time allied to them, and we still are their allies."
Accompanying the "Moskva" is the Northern Fleet's "Vice Admiral Kulakov" (a Udaloy-class destroyer), and a tanker christened "Ivan Bubnov".
During their stay in Havana, the ships will be open for public viewing.
The Russian crews are expected to participate in various cultural and sporting events.
"We have always had Russian military visitors," said Emilio Nunez, a 58-year-old Cuban citizen who had received his college education in the Soviet Union.
Under an ideological and economic alliance that has lasted for more than three decades, Cuba once received about 20 percent of its gross national product from Soviet subsidies.
The island's economy almost collapsed in the '80s when the Soviets stopped sending aid.
Cuba's economy has since become more self-sufficient, though it partly relies on its strong relations with Venezuela, its current top business partner.
Cuba's relation with Russia had chilled after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, but it now seems to be gathering steam once again.
The Caribbean island exports sugar to Russia as well as vaccines and other products from its advanced biotechnology industry.
It is also interested in promoting exchange in the automotive, transportation, aviation and tourism industries.

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