On the afternoon of February 16, Cuban Minister of Foreign Relations, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, received U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, at the ministry headquarters, who was visiting Cuba to participate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of regular direct flights between Cuba and the U.S.
The U.S. official was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Charles Rivkin, U.S. Ambassador to Cuba Jeffrey DeLaurentis and other representatives from the U.S. State and Transport Departments.
During the meeting the two officials discussed a broad range of topics related to the current state of bilateral relations and the possible impact of the agreement on travel between the two countries, which can only be fully exploited once U.S. citizens are permitted to freely travel to Cuba. The Cuban delegation noted that the signing of the accord represents a positive step in the process toward the normalization of relations, which will depend on the lifting of the economic blockade, among other pending issues.
Earlier, Cuban Minister of Transport Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez held a meeting with Foxx and part of his delegation, during which they discussed prospects for the development of ties in the sphere of air transportation and the potential for cooperation in civil aviation.
Representing Cuba in both meetings were Ministry of Foreign Relations Director General for the United States, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro; President of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC), Colonel Alfredo Cordero Puig, as well as other Minrex and Mintrans representatives.
(Cubaminrex)