CUBA, Feb 24, 2010. - The presidents from Brazil and Cuba, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Raul Castro, held fruitful talks on Wednesday at Havana’s Revolution Palace, as part of the ongoing working visit of the top leader of the South American nation. The national television newscast reported that the meeting took place in accordance with the excellent state of bilateral relations and the solid friendship uniting the Cuban and Brazilian peoples. The two heads of state spoke about the challenges faced by their respective countries; they expressed their satisfaction for the continuous development of cooperation between Brazil and Cuba in numerous fields, especially the economic one; and the willingness to keep on expanding it. Raul highlighted the decisive role played by Brazil in the region’s present and future, while Lula expressed his joy for this, his fourth visit to the island since his election as president. Also present in the talks were Ricardo Cabrisas, Vice-president of the Council of Ministers; Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez; Rodrigo Malmierca; Minister for Foreign Trade and Investment, and Carlos Zamora, Cuba’s ambassador to Brazil. Representing Brazil were Nelson Jobim, Minister of Defense; Miguel Joao Jorge Filho, Minister for Development, Industry and Foreign Trade; Guilherme Cassel, Minister of Cuba and Brazil established consular bonds in 1906 and diplomatic relations in 1943. Relations between the two nations were interrupted in 1964 due to the policy of isolation put into practice by the United States and the Organization of American States against Cuba, and were resumed on June 26, 1986. (Cubaminrex - acn) |