During the cordial meeting, they discussed the positive state of bilateral relations shard by their countries, based on cooperation and mutual respect.

They also agreed on the desire to develop ties in areas such as education, health, culture, environmental protection, and sustainable development.The distinguished visitor was accompanied by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Commonwealth; His Excellency Mr. Antony Stokes, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Cuba; as well as Hugo Shorter, Foreign Ministry director for the Americas and the Commonwealth; and Scott Furssedonn-Wood, private secretary of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.On the Cuban side, also participating were Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz; the Foreign Ministry’s general director for Bilateral Affairs, Emilio Lozada García; and Cuba’s ambassador in the United Kingdom, Teresita Vicente Sotolongo.

(Granma)

Prince Charles of Wales and his spouse, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in Havana Sunday afternoon, on a first official visit to Cuba by members of the British royal family. Deputy Foreign Minister Ana Teresita González accompanied them to the José Martí Monument and Memorial in the Plaza de la Revolución.

The visit will include talks with the President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and is indicative of the positive relations shared by Cuba and the United Kingdom, first established in 1902, and which both countries are interested in strengthening in all arenas, including energy, agriculture, health, and education.

In 2016, then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Philip Hammond, made a visit to Cuba, the first conducted by a high-ranking British authority since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

Likewise, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez made a stop in London during his international tour of November, 2018, and held various meetings, including one with current Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.

Cuba also recognizes the United Kingdom’s traditional support to the Cuban resolution against the U.S. blockade, presented every year in the United Nations General Assembly, and appreciates the positive role the country has played in the development of a constructive and respectful relationship between Cuba and the European Union.

(Granma)

He held a meeting with the Cuba Initiative group which emerged in 1995, as a result of the friendship between baroness Young and Fidel, to establish a constructive dialogue between the United Kingdom and Cuba.

David Maxim Triesman, co-president of the organization, shared the group’s intention to re-launch its efforts, “injecting new energy.”

He recalled the founding of the Initiative, which, he said, marked the beginning of a new, stronger relationship between business, education, culture, and sports with the Cuban government and other institutions.
Díaz-Canel also visited Westminster to interact with British Parliamentarians and later held a cordial meeting with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

During the evening, he met with activists from the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and trade union representatives, commenting, “We are here to reiterate to the British government that we will make an effort to increase and expand our ties.”

He reaffirmed that the U.S. blockade is the greatest obstacle to relations between the two countries and thanked the British government for its support of Cuba’s struggle against the hostile U.S. policy.

The Cuban President concluded, “What we have felt during this brief stay and these meetings is friendship and affection.”

The Cuba Initiative was founded more than 20 years ago, as one of the three membership organisations of the Caribbean Council, “in response to a request from the Governments of the United Kingdom and Cuba for an independent, bi-lateral, non-governmental body able to support and develop programmes that enhance the UK/Cuban relationship,” according to the Caribbean Council website.

The Cuba Initiative fosters a closer economic, trade and investment relationship, to deliver a sustained increase in trade and investment in all sectors.

During the exchange, with the participation of other members of the organization, González expressed the interest to continue deepening bilateral economic relations, friendship and cooperation ties between Cuba and the UK.

She stressed that Cuba’s Foreign Investment Law and the establishment of the Mariel Special Zone of Development (ZEDM) provide greater opportunities for progress in economic/commercial relations.

The Cuban official also tweeted about the meeting, which she described as useful, and reiterated the commitment to continue developing and promoting economic/commercial relations and investment.

González also toured the Palace of Westminster with Lord Triesman and Cuban Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teresita Vicente Sotolongo.

As part of this stop of her tour of European and Central Asian nations, the diplomat also spoke with Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The two officials highlighted the mutual will to advance ties.

The day before, the Deputy Foreign Minister met with Rob Miller, director of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, and members of this national organization, and expressed her gratitude for their efforts in support of the island.

At the London headquarters of the UK’s largest union, UNITE, González also spoke with trade union leaders and members.

The next stop of the Deputy Minister’s tour will be Iceland, followed by Ireland. She previously visited Belarus, Georgia, Poland, Turkey and Uzbekistan, where she likewise noted the excellent ties with Cuba and the will to extend them.

(With information from Prensa Latina)