During the fraternal meeting, the two leaders emphasized the excellent relations shared by their countries; the historic, collaborative ties that unite the two peoples, governments, and armed forces; as well as their desire to further strengthen the relationship.

The distinguished guest was accompanied by Lieutenant Generals Carlos Filomeno de Sousa Couceiro and Luis Manuel Da Fonseca Sotto-Mayor Pizarro. While also present on the Cuban side were Army Corps Generals Leopoldo Cintra Frías and Álvaro López Miera, minister and first deputy minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, respectively, as well as Brigadier General Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez.

(Granma)

A press release says that Raul Castro, president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers, held a fraternal meeting with Asjes on Friday afternoon.

At the meeting, the two leaders exchanged opinions about the development of political ties and the opportunities to further boost trade and cooperation between the two countries, as well as other matters of regional interest.

Asjes was accompanied by Jose Manuel Norberto Jardim, minister of finances, while the Cuban delegation included Council of Ministers Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, and Interim Foreign Minister Marcelino Medina Gonzalez, the press release concludes.

(Prensa Latina)

The 45-day term will expire today. It was stipulated so the legislators -particularly those reluctant to the approach started in December 2014 between Washington and Havana- speak in favor of the decision notified on April 14 by President Barack Obama.

The fact is that an initiative with last-minute bicameral support seems unlikely because the congress people are this week on vacations and would have to move before midnight.

But in late April, the anti-Cuban right-wing congress people had agreed that there was no reasonable maneuver margin to oppose to this step by the Executive, which has been made progresses towards the restoration of diplomatic ties with the island and the reopening of embassies in both capitals.

Cuban authorities have stated -in three rounds of official talks and other contacts- the importance of their country’s removal from that list of nations that allegedly sponsoring terrorism, although they did not established this as a prerequisite for the progress in bilateral talks.

Few days after Obama informed of Cuba’s exclusion from that “blacklist” -in which it stood since 1962- congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a fervent supporter of Washington’s anti-Cuba policy, said in an interview with Foreign Policy: “We could not undo it.”

Her frustration, for lacking political capital in the Capitol corridor, agreed a 59 percent of citizens’ support to the Executive’s decision, according to a survey published by CNN/ORC.

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered just the U.S. government’s decision to eliminate the island from a list in which it ensured it should never be included.

It also recalled that Caribbean nation was victim of hundreds of terrorist actions that killed 3,478 people and injured 2,099.

Havana also reaffirmed that it rejects and condemns those terrorism actions in all its forms and expressions, as well as any action that is intended to instigate, support, finance or cover such activities.

Few days before Obama’s notification to the Congress, the head of the White House and Cuban President Raul Castro had held a historic -unprecedented- meeting in the context of the Seventh Summit of the Americas, in Panama.

(Prensa Latina)

Putin stated that he recalled “with affection” his last visit to Cuba, in 2014. In addition, he described diplomatic relations between Russia and the Island as long and historic, with the 55th anniversary of the reestablishment of said ties to be celebrated this Friday.

The Army General, who entered the conference room moments before Putin and greeted the journalists gathered there in Russian, thanked the host President for inviting him on date as historic as that of “the great victory of the people of the former Soviet Union.” He reiterated that for him it was impossible no to be present for the festivities and commented on the activities being carried out in Cuba in honor of such an important date.

He made particular reference to the presence of Serguei Naryshkin, Chairman of the State Duma, currently visiting Havana. In addition, he recalled Putin’s visit to Cuba in July 2014, and the important agreements – signed on that occasion – regarding the promotion of bilateral relations in spheres ranging from culture, industry, health, international information security, trade and natural disasters relief, among others.

After these statements, which were immediately disseminated by the press, Raúl and Putin held a private meeting, accompanied by their respective delegations.

After the meeting, Raúl presented the Russian president with an art work by Alexis Leyva Machado (Kcho), which depicts an old PKP rifle (known as Pecheneg) with roses protruding from its barrel and which at its base, on three discs made from bullets, is written: “The Soviet victory over fascism is the foundation of the new Russia.”

On Friday, May 9, the Cuban President is scheduled to meet Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow, highest authority of the Russian Orthodox Church, as he did during his 2009 official visit.

Leticia Martínez, Granma

The President will arrive in Cuba from Guadalupe, as part of a Caribbean tour that also included the French overseas territories Martinique, St. Martin and St. Barts, and that will continue afterwards to Haiti. Hollande, of the Socialist Party (PS), became President of France in May 2012, after winning his opponent Nicolas Sarkozy -candidate of Union for a Popular Movement- in the second round of the elections.

Previously, he had held numerous positions, including first secretary of the PS, mayor of Tulle and deputy of Corraze.

(Prensa Latina)