On August 23rd, the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Damascus held a reception at the residence of the ambassador on the occasion of the 97th anniversary of the birth of the late leader Fidel Castro and the 58th anniversary of the founding of the Syrian-Cuban relations.
The Cuban Ambassador to Damascus, Luis Mariano Fernandis Rodrigis, stressed in a speech the depth and durability of the relations that link Syria and Cuba, and the two countries’ identical positions in all international forums in support of the just causes of the peoples of the world.
The ambassador pointed out that the geographical distance between Damascus and Havana was not an obstacle to laying the foundations of a relationship that develops and strengthens over time.
Ambassador Rodrigis pointed to the schemes that the two countries have been exposed to in a bid to destroy their legitimate governments, to the economic, commercial and financial siege against Cuba for more than 62 years and to the sabotage actions aimed at destabilizing the Cuban internal front, clarifying that Syria has also been exposed to a terrorist war for more than 12 years accompanied by criminal sanctions.
The ambassador indicated that the malicious disinformation campaigns that the two countries are exposed to by the American government, which aim to accuse them of violating human rights and sponsoring terrorism, made Cuba and Syria appreciate the true value of solidarity between two brothers who are fighting and resisting until victory in the same trench to preserve their sovereignty and independence.
The ambassador added: Cuba condemns the Israeli occupation of the Golan, and it has been supporting the return of the Golan and all the lands occupied by foreign forces that are illegally present in Syria.
The ambassador said that there is a political will and a great desire by the leaderships in the two countries to benefit from all opportunities despite the complicated economic conditions and challenges to continue expanding the level of relations in the economic, cultural, sports, scientific and educational fields.
In turn, the Director of the American Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Khalil Bitar stressed the strength of political relations and mutual support between the two countries. he pointed out that Syria and Cuba stand together against the imperialist conspiracies, the economic blockade, and the unjust and unilateral coercive measures that the Syrian and Cuban peoples have been suffering from for years.
Bitar noted the position of Cuba in support of Syria in the past years, both in the October War, when the Syrian blood mixed with the Cuban blood in defense of the right, honor, sovereignty and independence in addition to the efforts exerted as an urgent response to the repercussions of the earthquake disaster that struck Syria last February.
Bitar affirmed Syria’s constant endeavor to boost the relations between the two countries, expressing his hope that cooperation between them will lead to enhancing trade and economic exchange and upgrading relations to include all fields to reach the level of historical political relations.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohamed Samer Al -Khalil and Minister of Health Hassan Al -Ghabbash, Minister of State for People’s Assembly Affairs Ahmed Bustaji, and a number of members of the People’s Assembly, directors of departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic missions in Syria.
O.M