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• 08 / 04 / 2008

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The statement comes amid persistent speculation about whether Russia could seek a military presence in Cuba - which lies just 150 kilometres from the U.S. border - in response to U.S. plans to place a missile-defence system in Eastern Europe.

The Interfax news agency reports that Putin, in a meeting with government ministers, said: "We should restore our position in Cuba and other countries."

Putin spoke while hearing about a recent trip to Cuba by a Russian government delegation that focused on co-operation projects.

(canadianpress)