July 14, 2023
Cuban President Diaz Canel on State visit to Portugal
In a state visit to Portugal today Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel said in a statement to the press, with his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, that Cuba will attend and participate in an active and very constructive way at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and European Union (EU) to take place in Brussels July 17-18.
On the first day of the Cuban president’s Portugal visit, he took the opportunity to thank the Community bloc for its stance against the U.S. blockade, on the occasion of 35 years of relations with the EU.
“I have thanked the president for the clear position of the EU and in particular of Portugal against the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba, which is the main obstacle to the development of our country,” he stressed.
Díaz Canel also explained the value of Lisbon’s role in facilitating the development of Cuba’s political dialogue and cooperation agreement with the EU, which ‘has constituted an important mechanism for maintaining and expanding ties between both parties’.
Together with President Rebelo de Souza, the leader of the Caribbean island made clear his hope that the EU continues to reject the blockade and at the same time expressed his repudiation of the inclusion of Cuba on the U.S. list ‘of alleged states that support terrorism’.
In turn, the Portuguese dignitary highlighted the intention to strengthen ties between the two peoples and cooperation in areas such as energy, digital economy or health.
Just a week ago, it was announced that Portugal wants to hire 300 Cuban doctors for its National Health Service.
Also on the agenda, Díaz Canel was received by the President of the Portuguese Assembly, Augusto Santos Silva, in a meeting attended by leaders of political parties and members of the Parliamentary Group of Friendship with Cuba.
Today, after the reception at the National Palace of Belém, residence of the Portuguese head of state, presented to Díaz Canel the Grand Collar of the Order of Infante Don Henrique, the highest distinction granted in this country to visiting dignitaries.
This is your home and the home of all Cubans, Rebelo de Sousa said, as he began his statements to the press after their meeting.
“We are confident that this visit will contribute to the expansion of bilateral relations, uninterrupted for 104 years and which today show not only the maturity that affection and time have bestowed upon them, but also the indispensable solidity for their continuity in the future”, Díaz Canel emphasized.
At the beginning of the day, in Lisbon’s Plaza de la Alegría, the two presidents inaugurated a bust of José Martí, in front of which Díaz Canel placed a wreath.
Previously, Díaz Canel paid homage to the great Portuguese writer and poet Luís Vaz De Camões, at the Tumulus of the Hieronymites Monastery, where his remains rest.
The presence of the Cuban delegation will last in Portugal until Sunday before moving on to Brussels to participate in the Summit on Monday. Díaz Canel, is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and First Deputy Foreign Trade Minister Ana Teresita González.
Source: Granma, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English