Funes: the US Blockade is an Anachronism CUBA, October 6, 2010.- "I come to correct a historical sin," asserted the President of the Republic of El Salvador, Carlos Mauricio Funes, while being welcomed on Monday afternoon at Havana’s José Martí International Airport, where he arrived "to honor a commitment I acquired since the very first day of my government," he said in reference to the decision, as his first action in foreign policy, of resuming relations with Cuba, broken off by El Salvador in March, 1961. FUNES placed a wreath by the monument to José MARTÍ in revolution square, the first floral tribute of a salvadoran president. "The suspension of relations for over 50 years, and not having made good use all that time of all the potential derived from uniting our two countries, with a common history, made no sense," expressed the head of state, who was welcomed by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra. "The Salvadoran people and the Cuban people have always been united," ratified the Central American head of state, which is now on the first official visit of a Salvadoran President to the Caribbean island. When asked about his opinion about the blockade the US maintains against Cuba, Funes stressed that his government keeps "a firm stance," expressed on two occasions at the United Nations: "The blockade is an anachronistic policy," he stated. Together with the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Hugo Martínez; Health, María Isabel Rodríguez; Economy, Héctor Dada, Tourism, José Napoleón Duarte, the leader came to Cuba accompanied by approximately 50 entrepreneurs linked to the pharmaceutical, hotel and tourism industries, aeronautics and sea transport, who are interested in opening business opportunities with Cuba. "There’s a complementary nature between our economies, El Salvador does not compete with Cuba, and the crisis has demonstrated that integration is the only way we can make progress," said the head of the Salvadoran government. Among the things he came to thank President Raúl Castro for, Funes mentioned the solidarity the island has maintained towards his country, in spite of the fact that diplomatic relations didn’t exist. "The national comprehensive health system, which is the most important reform carried out in this sector over the last few years, as been possible thanks to Cuban consultancy," acknowledged the head of state, who later went the monument to José Martí, located in Havana’s Revolution Square, to place a wreath in honor of the National Hero. (Cubaminrex-Granma) |