Cuban and Russian FMs review status of bilateral relations

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 19 (ACN) The vitality of ties and the potential to continue expanding them focused the attention of the meeting held today in Havana between Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Rodriguez Parrilla reiterated to his counterpart, who is on an official visit to the island, the importance given by the Caribbean nation to ties with the Eurasian country, which is considered a strategic ally with which it shares strong historical roots of friendship and mutual respect.

He also expressed gratitude for the invariable position of the Russian Federation in support of the resolutions presented by Cuba before the United Nations General Assembly and the demands for the cessation of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States and the removal of the archipelago from the list of alleged State sponsors of terrorism.

This occasion will make it possible to confirm the excellent state of bilateral relations and the coincidence of both parties on the international agenda, as well as to identify directions in which to direct common work, he said.

Lavrov at a press conference expressed his satisfaction with the constructive nature of the political dialogue held at the highest level between the two countries and that it will continue with the holding, in the middle of this year, of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission to analyze in detail the opportunities for collaboration.

In this way, he highlighted among the areas of greater prospects the financial activity that has included the MIR Payment System in the national territory, which constitutes, according to his words, a very relevant issue not only for tourism but also for the promotion of transactions and in order to strengthen the presence of the Eurasian giant's entrepreneurship in the Cuban economy.

The head of the Russian diplomacy added that at present two companies maintain regular flights to Cuba and there is demand to open more connections in that line and also two special credits were approved for the supply of fuel to the island, which proves the continued and firm commitment of the Federation with the energy issue.

Cuba knows firsthand what illegal aggression through sanctions and economic pressures means and therefore, as advocates of a fairer world order and dedicated to respect for the sovereign equality of States, Russia remains willing to strengthen and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, he considered.

As part of the official program of the visit, Lavrov will lay a wreath this morning at the monument to National Hero Jose Marti at the Memorial that bears his name and will hold talks with Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic.

After this first stop, the Russian foreign minister will continue his regional tour that will take him to Venezuela on Tuesday and to Brazil in the following days.