Havana, Jan 4, 2007. Panamanian president, Martin Torrijos, expressed appreciation for Cuban solidarity towards his country and recalled the friendship between his father Omar Torrijos and the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro. Torrijos arrived in this capital on Tuesday for a work visit, and held talks Wednesday with Cuban authorities, including Parliamentary president, Ricardo Alarcon and Government Minister Ricardo Cabrisas. He met also Fernando Remirez de Estenoz, head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party."It is time to recover fraternal ties," Torrijos stated. During the talks the Panamanian leader referred to the advancement of bilateral relations since his arrival in the government, especially noting programs of social impact such as the formation of physicians and Operation Miracle. About five thousand citizens of this Central American nation have recovered sight due to free surgery. Martin Torrijos, whose father governed Panama from 1966-1978 is visiting Cuba at the head of a delegation of the Minister of Economy and Finances, Carlos Vallarino, and ambassador of his country to Cuba, Ariel Omar Rodriguez as well as advisors Luis Gomez and Efebo Diaz. The visit of Torrijos to Havana is seen as an example of the historical ties between both peoples and nations that are now strengthened when the Panamanians struggle to recover the Panama Canal. ( Cubaminrex- PL ) .
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