MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) - Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Valery Mitskevich wrapped up his visit to Cuba, BelTA learned from the press service of the House of Representatives.
On 14 February, Valery Mitskevich met with Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba. The parties discussed the entire range of Belarusian-Cuban cooperation, prospects for advancing political and economic cooperation and agreed on the need to further bilateral relations.
The parties noted that the Belarusian-Cuban relations are based on a solid foundation of friendship, a wide convergence of interests, a trust-based political dialogue at the highest and high levels. Today, as Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz noted, the time is right to restart the relations.
Valery Mitskevich emphasized that the negotiations between the presidents of Belarus and Cuba in Minsk in the autumn of 2019 created a good basis for providing mutual support in the international arena, implementing cooperation projects in the economic and humanitarian sectors.
During the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing comprehensive cooperation and discussed measures to overcome the difficulties associated with the political and economic pressure exerted on Belarus and Cuba by the United States and its allies.
Valery Mitskevich noted that Cuba's struggle for independence has always been supported by Belarusian MPs. "Actually, one of the goals of my visit is to declare my full solidarity with the Republic of Cuba," Valery Mitskevich emphasized.
The parties paid special attention to the development of humanitarian ties. They talked about the prospects for boosting cooperation in higher education, sport and tourism and noted the need to resume trips of children for health recuperation purposes: from Belarus to Cuba and vice versa.
On the same day, the vice speaker held talks with Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez, President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba. The parties discussed topical issues of the development of parliamentary cooperation.
At the beginning of the talks, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez recalled that 16 April will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The head of the Cuban legislature thanked the government, parliament and the people of Belarus for solidarity with Cuba, support in the fight against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government against Cuba, and also in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He reaffirmed his strong support for Belarus in the face of the destabilizing and discrediting actions of the collective West.
Valery Mitskevich highly appreciated the work of the Belarusian and Cuban parliamentary friendship groups in international organization and thanked his Cuban colleagues for the support provided to the Belarusian delegation at the 143rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Madrid.
During the meeting, a proposal was made to declare 2022 the year of the development of Belarusian-Cuban parliamentary relations. The parties also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing joint work in inter-parliamentary organizations, in particular the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement to protect the interests of the peoples of the two countries.
Special consideration was given to the development of Belarusian-Cuban trade and economic relations. In January-November 2021 the trade totaled $15.2 million, up by 2.6 times year-on-year. The parties welcomed the resumption of deliveries to Cuba of the vehicles made by the Belarusian tractor engineering company MTZ. Last year, MTZ shipped 283 vehicles to Cuba. In 2022 it will supply at least 200 more tractors. In January-November 2021, the trade in agricultural and food products amounted to $2.1 million, an increase of 6.2 times as against the same period in 2020. Valery Mitskevich also said a Belarusian project to build a poultry farm in the Mariel free economic zone will contribute to the development of the agricultural industry of Cuba.
The parties noted the potential for developing cooperation in Eurasian Economic Union, where Cuba has been an observer since last year, and discussed humanitarian interaction, cooperation in healthcare, sport, tourism and culture.
Valery Mitskevich informed the Speaker of the Cuban Parliament about the preparations for the constitutional referendum in the Republic of Belarus and expressed the hope that the planned changes would gain a positive response from the Cuban MPs and the people of Cuba. In 2019 Cuba passed the updated Constitution and now Cuban MPs are actively working to bring national legislation into line with it.
Valery Mitskevich conveyed to Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez an invitation from Speaker of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko to pay a parliamentary visit to Belarus.
On the first day of the visit Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Valery Mitskevich made a trip to the Mariel Special Development Zone. It is located 45km from Havana and has 55 resident companies from 11 countries. The priority areas are electronics, logistics, pharmaceuticals, energy, financial and banking industries. On 28 January 2021, the Great Stone Industrial Park and the Mariel Special Development Zone signed a memorandum of understanding. The document is aimed at developing cooperation in attracting investments, strengthening ties between the business communities of Belarus and Cuba, promoting information interaction. A delegation of the Mariel Special Development Zone headed by its Director General, member of the Cuban Parliament Ana Teresa Igarza is set to visit Belarus on 19-24 February. Valery Mitskevich proposed to use this opportunity to consider, in more detail, joint cooperation with the participation of Cuban companies, including in the pharmaceutical industry.
On 15 February, Valery Mitskevich met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo of Cuba. The parties hailed the excellent state of bilateral relations and discussed the prospects for building up trade and economic cooperation as the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The vice speaker of the House of Representatives also met with Fernando Gonzalez Llort, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples. The Institute was founded in 1960. Over the past decades, it has firmly established itself as a key link in the entire system of international public relations. The Institute is doing a great deal of work to promote cooperation with Cuban solidarity organizations around the world. Addressing the participants of the meeting, Valery Mitskevich noted that the Cuban people, thanks to hard work and cohesion, have achieved great results in economy, social sector and security of their country. According to him, Cuba's experience is of historical importance for Belarus. "Our country has come under similar pressure. The United States and its allies have resorted to the widest range of means. They act roughly and shamelessly, through terror and violence. Unilateral coercive measures are contrary to the provisions of the UN Charter, contradict international obligations within the framework of the 2030 Agenda," he said.
In the current conditions, mutual support, strengthening unity and cohesion are of particular importance, Valery Mitskevich is convinced and urged to work hand in hand, protecting common interests. Public diplomacy has a significant role to play in this.
Valery Mitskevich thanked the Cuban Institute for Peoples' Friendship for their contribution to strengthening relations of fraternal friendship and close humanitarian cooperation between Belarus and Cuba and expressed hope for further strengthening of relations.
Valery Mitskevich wrapped up his visit to Cuba with a tour of the Fidel Castro Center.
