Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, says Moscow is 100% in solidarity with Cuba
Alina Perera Robbio / Granma
When His Excellency Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, told the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, this Thursday afternoon that he felt “highly honored to be received by you,” the dignitary’s response recalled a history of mutual support between the two nations: “You are a great friend of Cuba.”
From the Palace of the Revolution, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party told the visitor, who had arrived in Cuba specifically for the Inter-Ministerial Meeting between the Republic of Cuba and the Russian Federation: “First and foremost, we must take this opportunity to send our warmest regards to our dear friend, President Putin, and greetings to all our friends in the Russian Federation.”
President Díaz-Canel told his counterpart: “I want to express my gratitude, on behalf of the Party, the Government, and the Cuban people, for the shipment of fuel that arrived a few days ago.” The Head of State considered it “an event of enormous significance and great symbolism,” and emphasized that, beyond the valuable fuel, the gesture “signifies that Cuba is not alone.”
He then reasoned that the aid also signifies that “in the midst of a complex situation, countries like the Russian Federation support Cuba, that countries like the Russian Federation have the courage not to be subjugated by imperialist policies.” Along the same lines, Díaz-Canel said that this supply “supports a concept we are defending, which is that we have every right to receive oil, and that other countries have every right to export oil to Cuba.”
To His Excellency Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, the Cuban President emphasized: “I would like you to convey this message of gratitude to the Russian government, to President Putin, especially given the enormous significance it has had at a time like this.” Díaz-Canel was illustrative regarding the importance of the aid: “It is the first and only fuel we have received in four months, and that has enormous meaning for us.”
At another point in the exchange, the president referred to the recent participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, in the 23rd session of the Cuba-Russia Intergovernmental Commission, held in St. Petersburg. Regarding this, he stated that “the will to move forward on all projects remains, and therefore the agreements we have reached with President Putin are reaffirmed.”
In his remarks, the Head of State also wanted to “reaffirm our willingness to continue strengthening political, diplomatic, and economic-commercial ties with the Russian Federation.” He also spoke of “continuing to deepen our special relationship,” as well as “the need to remain united,” especially “at a time like this when the world is so chaotic with existing conflicts.”
For his part, His Excellency Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, stated: “Dear Comrade President, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to hold this meeting. We value it as a strong signal, both in the Russian Federation and in the international community, of the special nature of the relations between Havana and Moscow.”
The friend also expressed his gratitude for the program Cuba had organized for him; he alluded to the moment when he was received by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; and emphasized: “I would like to express that, at this time, Russia stands in complete solidarity with Cuba. We fully understand the complexity of the situation the country is going through, and we are by your side.”
This Thursday, at a meeting where brotherhood set the tone for the dialogue, the First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic, Gerardo Peñalver Portal, was also present on the Cuban side.
IMAGE CREDIT: Photo: Estudios Revolución
[ SOURCE: www.cubainformacion.tv ]
