The delegation of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba to Russia visiting Smolensk region

The delegation of the Republic of Cuba to the Russian Federation came to Smolensk region on a working visit. Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy held a meeting with the guests headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to Russia Ratmir Emilio Losada Garcia.

First of all, on behalf of the Cuban people, Mr. Garcia congratulated the people of Smolensk with the city’s anniversary and noted that it was a special honor to be in the city with such a heroic past. "We want to develop relations between Cuba and Smolensk region. There are opportunities to do it in such spheres as tourism, health care ... I think there are some issues that we could discuss. There is an important issue of cultural exchange, which can be very useful for the development of our cooperation. We would like to build up good relations with your region and would like to invite you, Alexey Vladimirovich, to Cuba. And, also, I would like to express my gratitude for the high-quality training of our cadets at the Military Academy of Air Defense Forces", - said the Ambassador of Cuba.

"We are very pleased that you are satisfied with the way the cadets are trained at our academy, we try to create the most favorable conditions for this. We will be glad if you recommend the Cuban businessmen to consider Smolensk region as an investment target”, - said Alexei Ostrovskiy. – “If I receive from you, Mr. Ambassador, an official invitation to visit the Republic of Cuba, I will try to find an opportunity in my schedule to do it on the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. As for the humanitarian relations, I will be very happy if the Embassy initiates inviting the Smolensk students to visit your wonderful Republic. The only issue is the financial support of this project, we are ready to send the young people at our expense, and if the Cuban side is ready to incur expenses of hosting them, we will appreciate it. If you are ready to send some delegations here, to arrange the Days of Culture of Cuba in Smolensk region, I think it would be great and we would find funds to provide free accommodation".

The parties agreed to explore possibilities for further cooperation by setting up a joint working group of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba to Russia and the Administration of Smolensk region.

Today, also, there was a ceremony of awarding medals "Soldier-Internationalist” Degree I to the participants of the strategic combat operation "Anadyr" held in October, 1962 in Cuba. It was awarded to 27 people, four of them posthumously.

During the visit of the Cuban delegation to Smolensk region its participants repeatedly noted that the history of relations between Russia and Cuba is in many ways unique and rich in remarkable events. Having gone through the various stages from the fraternal friendship in the Soviet period to the subsequent collapse of cooperation in many areas after the Soviet Union breaking apart, today the countries are restoring the relations, increasing positive dynamics steadily.