Relations between Cuba and Russia Characterized as Excellent

Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov and Cuba’s Economy and Planning Minister Ricardo Cabrisas characterized on Tuesday in Moscow bilateral relations as excellent.

Both leaders, who met at the Russian Federation’s Foreign Ministry, agreed that the bilateral ties registers a positive growing tendency in areas of common interests, among them, high level political dialog, economic-commercial and scientific-technical relations, in addition to culture and education.

The Russian Foreign Minister began his dialog reiterating their most sincere condolences and solidarity on behalf of the Russian government for the plane crash in Havana last Friday.

Cabrisas thanked President Vladimir Putin for being among the first Head of States in sending a message of condolences to his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel at a difficult moment for the Cuban people, especially the family of the victims.

Cabrisas and Lavrov reaffirmed their determination in expanding cooperation in the context of the international entities. The Russian Foreign Minister ratified Moscow’s opposition to the policy of sanctions and blockades carried out by Washington against Havana in the last 60 years and confirmed its vote in favor of the Cuban Resolution presented each year to the UN General Assembly.

The also Cuban Vice President of the Council of States ratified Cuba’s rejection to the unilateral and unjust sanctions against Russia.

Lavrov stressed his interest in visiting Cuba this year, trip that was not carried out this week because it coincided with the first session of the Council of Ministers after the constitution of the new government.

He confirmed his disposition in receiving Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla who has an open invitation to visit Moscow.

Two important agreements were signed in the expansion of cooperation ties between both countries, the first to broaden the regime of visas exemption and the second in the field of culture.

First Vice President of the DUMA Ivan Melnikov met with Cabrisas who held meetings with directives of several Russian companies that actively participate in trading with the Caribbean island and strategic projects that contributes to the economic and social development in the country, like KAMAZ, GAZ, Zarubezhneft, RM Rail and INTERRAO among others.

The Cuban Economy and Planning Minister arrived on Monday to the Russian Federation on a working visit and heading the island delegation to the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg scheduled for May 24th to the 26th.

Cabrisas, who is co-chair of the Cuban-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for the Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, will participate in two high level panels with other foreign representatives to this important event.

The delegation is made up by the Minister of Agriculture Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero; First Vice Ministers of Economy and Planning and Transportation Raul Garcia Barreiro and Eduardo Rodriguez Davila, respectively; Vice Minister of Industry Jose Gaspar Alvarez Sandoval; the Foreign Ministry’s General Director of Bilateral Affairs Emilio Lozada Garcia and the Cuban ambassador to Russia Gerardo Penalver Portal, among other officials. (ACN)