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Russia gets CAIS observer status, El Salvadoran foreign minister says

The Central American Integration System (CAIS) or the regional free trade zone comprises Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rico, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador

El Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

El Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez

© EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

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MOSCOW, June 9 /TASS/. Russia is close to getting an observer status at the Central American Integration System (CAIS). The process is almost completed, visiting El Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez said after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.

"We deepen our security dialogue both in bilateral and regional formats between Russia and CAIS," Martinez said. "In this context, we have welcomed Russia’s request to gain an observer status at CAIS and have vigorously supported this process," the El Salvadoran foreign minister said. l

The CAIS summit to be held in the next few days is expected to announce that Russia has joined CAIS as an observer state, Hugo Martinez went on to say.

"That will help stepping up our relations, especially in the next six months when El Salvador takes over the organization’s rotating presidency," Martinez said.

The Central American Integration System or the regional free trade zone was set up in 1991. It comprises Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rico, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador.

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