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Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 8.30 GMT |
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SL - Cuba
celebrate 50th Anniversary of the
establishment of Diplomatic Relations |
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The
visiting
Cuban Dy.
Foreign
Minister
Marcos
Rodriguez
Costa
reaffirmed
the
historically
close
friendly
ties
with Sri
Lanka
and
observed
a new
momentum
in the
bilateral
relations
when he
called
on
Foreign
Minister
Rohitha
Bogollagama
yesterday.
The
Cuban Dy.
Minister
is on a
three
day
visit to
Sri
Lanka to
participate
in the
50th
Anniversary
celebration
of the
establishment
of
Diplomatic
Relations
between
Sri
Lanka
and
Cuba. He
recalled
and
acknowledged
that Sri
Lanka
was one
of the
first
countries
in Asia
to
recognize
the
Revolutionary
Government
of Cuba
soon
after
its
establishment
in 1959.
Foreign
Minister
Bogollagama
welcoming
the
Cuban Dy.
Minister
paid
tribute
to the
steadfast
support
Cuba has
provided
Sri
Lanka
traditionally,
and
especially
during
the long
terrorist
conflict
as well
as in
other
sectors
such as
education,
medical
and
technical
assistance.
Recognizing
the
strong
bilateral
ties he
acknowledged
the role
Cuba has
been
playing
in the
international
arena
such as
that in
the
Non-Aligned
Movement,
UN
bodies
etc. He
also
recalled
the
extremely
cordial
meeting
between
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
and the
Cuban
leader
President
Raul
Castro
during
their
meeting
in Sharm
El
Sheik,
Egypt at
the last
Non-Aligned
Summit
where
they had
stressed
the
importance
of the
relations
between
the two
countries.
The
Foreign
Minister
observed
that the
Non
Aligned
Movement,
of which
both Sri
Lanka
and Cuba
have
served
as past
Chairs,
are
experiencing
a
resurgence
as
developing
countries
are
strengthening
their
cooperative
efforts
under
the
umbrella
of the
organization.
The
Cuban Dy.
Minister
appreciated
Sri
Lanka’s
consistent
support
to end
the
almost
50 year
long
American
trade
embargo
on Cuba
by
joining
the
international
condemnation
at the
United
Nations.
The
Foreign
Minister
stated
that Sri
Lanka is
against
any kind
of
sanction
that
could
have a
negative
effect
on
ordinary
citizens
of a
country.
Following
the
demise
of
terrorism,
Sri
Lanka
has now
entered
into a
post-conflict
phase
where we
are
confronted
with the
task of
rebuilding
the
north
and
resurrecting
the
livelihoods
of the
people,
Minister
Bogollagama
said
adding
that Sri
Lanka
needs
the
assistance
of all
its
friends
for this
purpose.
Today,
with all
Sri
Lankans
living
in a
democracy,
a
healing
process
has
started
among
the
communities.
The
Minister
stated
that the
government,
at many
levels,
such as
at
provincial
and
local
government
levels
is
focused
on
building
a
framework
for the
development
agenda
for the
people.
The two
Ministers
discussed
the
collaboration
between
the two
countries
in the
education
sector
which
has
allowed
many Sri
Lankan
students
to study
medicine,
engineering
and
science
in Cuba
on Cuban
government
sponsored
scholarships.
Foreign
Minister
Bogollagama
thanked
the
Cuban
government
for the
award of
scholarships
and
welcomed
the
further
expansion
of this
cooperative
venture.
The Dy.
Foreign
Minister
of Cuba
referred
to his
meeting
with
former
students
who are
now
employed
as
professionals
in their
fields
back in
Sri
Lanka,
and
expressed
satisfaction
at the
manner
in which
their
education
is
benefiting
this
country.
The
Cuban Dy.
Minister
said
that the
two
countries
must
identify
additional
areas of
economic
cooperation
and
expressed
confidence
that
more
trade
opportunities
would be
cultivated
following
the
participation
of Sri
Lanka at
the
recently
concluded
27th
Havana
International
Trade
Fair. He
also
recalled
that his
government
responded
quickly
to the
request
of
President
of Sri
Lank for
assistance
to
combat
the
recent
dengue
epidemic,
by
sending
two
experts
and
expressed
the hope
that
such
cooperative
ventures
should
be
developed
through
a
process
of
formaliziation.
A
Commemorative
Stamp
depicting
the
mahogany
tree
planted
in
Horana
by
Commandante
Che
Guevara
during
his
visit in
1959 was
issued
to
celebrate
50 years
of
diplomatic
relations.
The two
sides
also
signed
an
Agreement
on
Cooperation
between
the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
of Cuba
and the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
of Sri
Lanka
that
covers
the
areas of
foreign
policy,
culture,
science
and
sports.
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