Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 October (BelTA) – The relations between Belarus and Cuba are based on friendship and mutual understanding, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko said at the meeting with Cuban Ambassador to Belarus Gerardo Suarez Alvarez on 12 October, BelTA has learned.

This year Belarus and Cuba are marking 25 years of diplomatic relations. “They have always been based on friendship and mutual understanding, and they have been so since the Soviet times,” said Vladimir Andreichenko. He added that over 25 years the two countries have built a robust foundation of cooperation, thanks to the leaders of the two states in the first place.

The two states have been steadily developing a legal framework of the bilateral relations. For instance, this year the agreements on cooperation were signed by the agrarian and culture ministries. The inter-parliamentary ties have been strengthening as well. Vladimir Andreichenko thanked the Cuban side for the support of the National Assembly in seeking the status of the observer in the Latin American Parliament. “We are very active there,” the speaker said.

Belarusian MPs have always supported Cuba in international organizations, advocating for the release of the Cuban Five and the end of the United States embargo against Cuba.

Gerardo Suarez Alvarez is completing its diplomatic mission in Belarus. He thanked the country’s authorities for fruitful cooperation and also the Belarusian people for support and solidarity. “Belarus became a true friend for Cuba long time ago. The two states enjoy great political relations. Some progress has been made in the trade and economic cooperation,” he stressed.

The two countries have been successfully implementing the signed agreements, for instance, the ones on mutual supplies. Under the document, Cuba exports medicines to Belarus, while Belarus sells agricultural equipment to Cuba. Over the past 2.5 years the volume of mutual supplies reached $6 million. The states continue talks to prolong the loan agreement, develop sci-tech cooperation.