Harmonious Relations and Respect for All

On his second day at the UN, the Cuban President held eight bilateral meetings

Author: Leticia Martínez Hernández | [email protected]
Author: René Tamayo León | [email protected]
Author: Alina Perera Robbio | [email protected]

September 26, 2018 12:09:16

The Cuban President spoke with Alicia Bárcena, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Photo: Estudio Revolución
NEW YORK.-Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez didn’t spare a second during his second day at the United Nations headquarters, where he held eight bilateral meetings.

In contrast to the cold, gray, and at times stormy day outside, the Cuban delegation continued on building harmonious and respectful relations with all countries.

At the stroke of noon, the President of the Councils of State and Ministers met with Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, as part of the collateral activities of leaders gathered at the United Nations.

The leaders expressed mutual recognition of the positive commercial relations between the two nations and the intention to advance further in the political sphere. They also considered the historic nature of these ties.

The Cuban President extended an invitation to Sánchez to visit the island, which the secretary-general of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party responded to favorably.

The Cuban President likewise held a meeting with Mauricio Macri, president of Argentina since December 10, 2015.

Later he spoke with Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, who thanked the Cuban leader for his compelling speech in the UN plenary dedicated to the memory of Nelson Mandela, and the contribution of the Caribbean nation to the defeat of apartheid.

They also recalled when, in 2015, Ramaphosa, then vice president, received Díaz-Canel, then first vice president of Cuba, in the city of Johannesburg.

The day continued with a meeting with Prime Minister of Barbados Mía Mottley, an expression of the respect that Cuba professes toward the nations of the Caribbean.
The Cuban President then spoke with the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço, who received him in September 2017 in Luanda, when he headed the Cuban delegation to his inauguration as president.

On this occasion, they also reiterated the will to expand political, economic and cooperation ties.

Díaz-Canel then spoke with the Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela, who in April, on the occasion of his election of as President of the Councils of State and Ministers, tweeted that he would continue to strengthen the ties of friendship between Cuba and Panama. This meeting at the UN was confirmation of that intention.

The Cuban President also spoke with Alicia Bárcena, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), with whom he previously met in May, when Havana hosted the 37th Session of the Commission.

As the afternoon drew to a close, Díaz-Canel exchanged with Federica Mogherini, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
These meetings were recognition of Cuba’s impact on global politics.