Díaz-Canel was welcomed at Baku International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov and Cuba’s ambassador here, Alfredo Nieves Portuondo. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parilla, who was already in Baku, participating in preparatory meetings for the Summit, was also on hand to greet the President.

He was later received by his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, who in a gesture of friendship devoted more than 40 minutes in his residence to the Cuban delegation, amidst preparations for the Summit, in which delegations from 120 member countries will participate.

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Cuban press accredited here that the positive state of bilateral relations was discussed during the meeting, and the desire shared by the two leaders to preserve unity within the Non-Aligned Movement and its important role in the international arena.The Summit opens today, under the slogan “Defending the Principles of Bandung to ensure an adequate, concerted response to the challenges of the contemporary world.”

On this occasion the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will relinquish the presidency of the Movement to the Republic of Azerbaijan, which will direct the bloc for the next three years.Cuba is fully committed to the Non-Aligned Movement, and has hosted two Summits in Havana, in 1979 and 2006, when our nation assumed the Presidency of the organization.

(Granma)

Describing him as a dear friend, Belarusian President greeted Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, during an official welcome ceremony held at the Palace of Independence, a beautiful building which has served as the government seat since 2013.

In his first words, Lukashenko referred to the last 25 years “of the history of the heroic revolutionary Cuba,” calling our nation a faithful ally and friend.

After official talks, the delegations signed several agreements: a memorandum of understanding between the two ministries of Justice to provide a legal framework for cooperation; a collaborative development program between Cuba’s Ministry of Higher Education and that of Belarus; plus a scientific-technical cooperation and innovation program.

In addition, an agreement between the news agency Prensa Latina and the Belarusian agency, Belta was updated; and a joint statement from the two Presidents was presented, synthesizing the results of their meeting, directed toward continuing the development of relations in the political, commercial, economic, industrial, agricultural, educational, and scientific-technological arenas.

President Díaz-Canel thanked Lukashenko for the support of Belarus in opposing the U.S. blockade, aggravated recently with further financial persecution and brutal sanctions on ships carrying fuel to Cuban ports.

Accompanying Díaz-Canel in Minsk, were Council of Ministers Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz; the ministers of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, and that of Agriculture, Gustavo Rodríguez Rollero; the president of the Central Bank of Cuba, Irma Martínez Castrillón; BioCubaFarma executive, Eduardo Martínez Díaz; and deputy ministers of Foreign Affairs and Public Health, Rogelio Sierra Díaz and Marcia Cobas Ruiz, respectively.

(Granma)

Exclamations of “Cuba yes, Yankees no!” and “Down with the blockade!” welcomed Diaz-Canel, upon his arrival to the National Palace, shortly after noon, following his reception at Benito Juárez International Airport by Maximiliano Reyes Zúñiga, undersecretary of state for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, constitutional President of the United Mexican States, accompanied his Cuban counterpart to the Patio of Honor for a brief formal welcome ceremony, where the notes of the national anthems of the two nations rang through the majestic building, adorned for the occasion with the flags of both Cuba and Mexico.

Subsequently, the two leaders moved to the Presidential Office and held a private meeting, with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Cuba’s ambassador in Mexico, Pedro Núñez Mosquera, also participating. On the Mexican side, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubón and Maximiliano Reyes Zúñiga attended, as well.

During the afternoon, an extended meeting was held between the two heads of state, with the respective official committees also present. According to a tweet by Cuba’s Foreign Minister, reaffirmed in the cordial discussion was “the will to continue developing political-diplomatic dialogue and expanding economic-commercial, investment, and cooperation relations.”

The Cuban delegation participating in this momentous visit included Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; the ministers of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, and Energy and Mines, Raúl García Barreiro; Eugenio Martínez Enríquez and Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, general directors for Latin America and the Caribbean, and of Consular and Cuban Resident Abroad Affairs, respectively; as well as the Cuban ambassador in Mexico, Pedro Núñez Mosquera.

Undersecretary Reyes described President Díaz-Canel’s visit to Mexico as one of “emblematic relevance; very important because it is another example of the appreciation, of the affection, of the historical brotherhood shared by the Mexican people and government with Cuba.” This was the first official visit to Mexico by a head of state since Andrés Manuel López Obrador assumed the Presidency in December of 2018.

Within a complex regional context, in which the two countries defend common positions on international issues, “for us Cuba has always been an emblem of the struggle for freedom, of the struggle against imperialist interests in the region,” emphasized Reyes in statements to the Cuban press.

Given the current “interventionist temptations,” as in the 1980s, Mexico today bases its foreign policy on the principles of non-intervention, self-determination, development cooperation and, above all, dialogue as the only way to resolve conflict. Thus our brotherhood and the synergy that exists between our countries’ positions are today more valid than ever,” he said.

Much remains to be done in terms of governmental cooperation. Faced with such a challenge, Reyes commented, “There is much to move forward,” and, without mentioning specific sectors, highlighted the goal of continuing to promote programs underway in the areas of ​​higher education, health, and hospital care.

He described the historical relationship that distinguishes the two nations as “extremely close,” one of “great affection, a relationship we want to produce concrete and tangible results for the benefit of our peoples.”

Given the question as to whether Diaz-Canel’s visit, as the first by a head of state since López Obrador’s election, was intentional or simply coincidental, his response left no room for doubt, “It is absolutely intentional.”

Prior to this exchange, President López Obrador had stated in his usual morning conference with the national and international media accredited in the country, “This is an important visit, because we can say that the Cuban people and the Mexican people are sister peoples.”

This was a visit that clearly reflects the intention shared by the two governments to promote “development cooperation.”

CUBA-MEXICO RELATIONS

- Mexico is a dear country for Cuba, with which we share a history and tradition of friendship.

- Cuba’s battles have been closely linked to the struggles and history of Mexico.

Our national hero, José Martí lived in Mexico, where he enriched his revolutionary and Latin Americanist vision.

- There is significant cultural exchange in numerous artistic expressions such as cinema, literature, theater, painting, and music.

- On May 20, the 117 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between the two countries were celebrated.

- Cubans will never forget the support received from Mexico in the region, as the only country that did not break relations and rejected attempts to isolate us by the U.S. government, during the Revolution’s early years.

- The historic victory of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador represents an opportunity to continue developing our amicable, historical, cultural ties, and, at the same time, expand the bilateral relationship.

- Last April, the seventh meeting of Cuba and Mexico’s Permanent Mechanism of Information and Political Consultations was successfully conducted, allowing for further deepening of diplomatic relations, and the expansion of economic-commercial ties and cooperation.

- The holding of the XXIV National Solidarity Meeting with Cuba, last March, reflected the unconditional relationship of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples.

- Cuba and Mexico have a strengthened legal framework that will allow increasing exchanges in sectors of mutual interest such as health, education, sports, tourism, culture, and biotechnology.

- Bilateral interactions this year, including visits to Mexico by Cuban ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Tourism, plus the rector of the University of Havana, and those made to our country by Mexico’s Secretary of Health and the president of the nation’s sports commission, have opened up new opportunities for dialogue and cooperation for the benefit of our peoples.

- Cuba is willing to contribute modestly in areas of common interest and benefit, and to the development and renewal of Mexico promoted by the government of President López Obrador.

- Conditions are in place to further strengthen economic-commercial relations.

Mexico is Cuba’s second most important trading partner in the region, and the fifth internationally.

- The important presence of Mexican enterprises in Cuba’s development programs is significant.

(Sources: Cubaminrex and Granma)

During the ceremony, Cuba’s national anthem was heard, and Díaz-Canel spoke with children there, mentioning the existence in Cuba of a street that bears the name of an Irishman, and a plaque that was visited by their President reading: “Two island towns in the same sea of struggle and hopes.”

According to the Cuban President’s Twitter account, the reception featured several highlights, including the planting of an oak tree, a traditional Irish symbol of friendship.Díaz-Canel expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you very much for the warm welcome, the attention given during my stay and for the frank discussion we just held…

“Peace and independence have been precisely the principles that have guided the Cuban revolutionary process since 1868 and are still the principles we defend today.” he added.

“It is these principles which unite us to Ireland, a friendly people who, like Cuba, have been obliged to fight for their sovereignty.“We return to the green and patriotic Ireland, that of Che’s ancestors, the one that accompanied Felix Varela, the one described by Martí, the one that generated Fidel’s admiration.

“Let us toast today for peace and independence, for friendship between the peoples of Cuba and Ireland, so that we may always continue in the same sea of ​​struggle and hope,” he said.

(Granma)

Lopez Obrador highlighted the historical ties with the people and government of Cuba, part of Mexican foreign policy based on good relations with all the peoples of the world.

“We are going to endorse that commitment and that foreign policy condition of respect for the Cuban people, their independence, their right to self-determination, which has been characteristic of our foreign policy and is contemplated in our Constitution,” he emphasized.

The head of State explained that he will discuss with his Cuban counterpart a general program to be developed in the short or medium term, including cooperation in health, education and sports.

Lopez Obrador announced he will receive Miguel Diaz-Canel in the Courtyard of Honor of the National Palace.

This is the first state visit to Mexico by Diaz-Canel since he attended the inauguration of President Lopez Obrador, in December 2018.

(Prensa Latina)

During his stay, the distinguished guest will hold official talks with the President of Cuba´s Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and undertake a variety of other activities.

(CubaMinrex-Granma)

Also addressed were issues of mutual interest on the international and regional agendas.

President Díaz-Canel thanked the minister for Canada’s traditional support for Cuba´s resolution against the blockade in the United Nations General Assembly, and the position taken by the country against the implementation of the Helms-Burton Act by the United States.

He reiterated Cuba´s solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and our concerns regarding the damage caused to the nation and its population by the economic sanctions and hostile policies to which it has been subjected. The President also stated that U.S. attempts to impose the Monroe Doctrine are a danger to the entire hemisphere.

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by Canadian ambassador to Cuba Perry John Calderwood, and policy advisor Trevor Harrison.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and the general director for Bilateral Affairs at the Foreign Ministry also participated.

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In a cordial environment, the two leaders reviewed the historic, fraternal relations that unite their countries and reiterated the willingness to promote political ties, solidarity, and cooperation. They also discussed topics on the international agenda.

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, minister of Health, and Napoleon Abdulai, Ghana’s ambassador on the island.

Participating on the Cuban side were Marcelino Medina González, interim minister of Foreign Affairs, and Pedro Luis Despaigne González, ambassador to Ghana.

As part of his work agenda In Cuba, on July 18, the Ghanaian Vice President held official talks with Inés María Chapman Waugh, a vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers.

During the friendly encounter, the positive state of bilateral relations was discussed, and the mutual will to continue strengthening joint work in areas of common interest was reaffirmed. Issues of international relevance were also addressed.

Photo: José Manuel Correa
Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu accompanied the distinguished visitor; as well as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Mohammed Habibu Tijani; Ghana’s ambassador to Cuba, Napoleon Abdulai; and other members of the delegation.

On the Cuban side were Marcia Cobas Ruiz, vice minister of Public Health, as well as Emilio Lozada García, general director of Bilateral Affairs; Pedro Luis Despaigne González, ambassador in Ghana; Alejandro Díaz Palacios, interim director for Sub-Saharan Africa, and other officials from the Foreign Ministry.

The distinguished guest also participated in the graduation ceremony of 1,667 professionals from the Victoria de Girón University of Medical Sciences, who received their diplomas at Havana’s Karl Marx Theater.

Cuba and Ghana will celebrate 60 years of friendship and diplomatic ties in December, and continue cooperation in areas such as agriculture, tourism, sports, education, science, technology, and health.

Cuban medical collaboration with Ghana began in 1983. Close to twenty Cuban health professionals offer their services in Ghana, receiving compensated. While, some 458 young Ghanaians have been trained as doctors on the island.

(Granma)

The distinguished guest was accompanied by Secretary of State of the Treasury, Her Excellency Vera Davis, and Angola’s Ambassador in Havana, His Excellency José César Augusto “Kiluanji.”
Also participating on the Cuban side were Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and the Foreign Ministry’s director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Gisela García Rivera.

(Granma)

During the cordial meeting, they agreed to continue defending the role of the United Nations in the preservation of international peace and security, as well as in the search for collective solutions to global problems.

They additionally discussed other topics on the international agenda.Accompanying the distinguished visitor was the Honorable Ms. Yanerit Morgan, deputy chief the General Assembly President’s staff, and political adviser to the President, Mr. Andrés Fiallo.

Also participating on the Cuban side were Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and the Foreign Ministry’s General Director of Multilateral Affairs and International Law, Rodolfo Reyes Rodríguez.

(Source: Granma)