Solidarity, friendship and cooperation marked the beginning of the day this Thursday at the Palace of the Revolution, where the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, received a solemn audience with the credentials of nine new ambassadors the Greater Antilles
During the protocol ceremonies – during which the Head of State was accompanied by First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver Portal – President Díaz-Canel confirmed to everyone the willingness of the Cuban Government and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist them in ensuring the successful mission at the head of the respective legations.
“I feel at home here,” assured the President, His Excellency Mr. Alejandro José Solís Martínez, Ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua, who was the first to present the documents accrediting him as such on the island. I consider it an honor, he said , salute him on behalf of President Daniel Ortega, Vice President Rosario Murillo and “our heroic people.”
In a special way, he highlighted the efforts of both nations for the unity of the continent, in which the forum of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States has a crucial importance. “We are very grateful to be here,” he said. “Cuba and Nicaragua will continue to fight against imperialism and for the unity of our peoples,” he said.
Alejandro José Solís Martínez, Ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua, was the first to hand over the documents accrediting him as such on the island. Photo: Revolution Studios.
After a warm greeting to Daniel and Rosario, President Díaz-Canel expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador to the people of Nicaragua for their solidarity; Rest assured you will feel right at home here, he said.
More than four decades of uninterrupted relationships
“Thank you, President, for receiving me,” Mrs. Wendy Manushka Paulus-Aminta, Ambassador of Suriname, later told the First Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee. Diaz-Canel asked her to thank his country’s president for the words he spoke in defense of Cuba during the recently concluded Summit of the Americas.
Her Excellency Mrs. Wendy Manushka Paulus-Aminta, Ambassador of Suriname. Photo: Revolution Studios.
He also reiterated our nation’s willingness to “continue to move forward on matters of cooperation, particularly in relation to the health sector.”
On behalf of my people and on my own behalf – said the distinguished lady – I thank you for the warm welcome and rest assured that with my presence here we will achieve greater unity between our countries.
From Chile: a message of friendship and cooperation
From the Republic of Chile, Mrs. Patricia Joan Esquenazi Marin, the first Chilean woman to hold this position in the Greater Antilles, came to the Palace of the Revolution to present credentials as the new ambassador. “I bring you a message of friendship and cooperation,” he assured the dignitary.
Send to your President, asked Diaz-Canel, all our gratitude for the support offered to Cuba at the Summit of the Americas. He then reiterated the island’s purpose of further strengthening ties of friendship and promoting bilateral relations between the two countries and economic and commercial exchanges, in which there are many opportunities today as developing countries that we are.
“You can rely on us for everything,” confirmed the ambassador.
Laos: lovely people and friend
The fourth to present his credentials was the Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, His Excellency Mr. Vanhtha Sengmeuang, with whom the Cuban President evoked the close friendly ties that bind the two nations and confirmed the commitment to continue to advance its strengthening. He also thanked for the support that this sister country has always offered to the island in its fight against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government.
We value the links between our countries based on aid and cooperation, especially in the areas of health, sports and education, said the highest representative of Laos in the Greater Antilles. “I will do everything to further strengthen these ties and have confidence that we will always be with Cuba in every fight,” he said.
The honor of representing New Zealand in Cuba
The Ambassador of this country, Her Excellency Mrs. Sara Meymand, then spoke of the satisfaction for the joint work done in the United Nations (UN), Cuba and New Zealand. “It’s a very constructive relationship,” she said after expressing the honor of representing her country in Cuba.
Her Excellency Sara Meymand expressed “the honor it means for her to represent her country in Cuba”. Photo: Revolution Studios.
Meanwhile, President Díaz-Canel considered it a pleasure to welcome him to the Palace of the Revolution and thanked the constant support New Zealand is giving at the UN to the fight against the blockade imposed on the island by the United States government . . We have many common issues, such as the environment and health, that we can use to our mutual benefit, the President said.
Shared commitment to nurturing cooperative bonds
The new ambassador of the Republic of Nauru, Ms. Margo Deiye, thanked the head of state for the constant support in the fight against the blockade and confirmed Cuba’s commitment to maintaining cooperative relations, especially in the context of human resource training in the health sector. “We are confident that our relationship will continue to grow,” he said.
Special thanks were expressed on her part by the excellent lady in relation to the training of health professionals. “Thank you!” he emphasized.
The African Union and its support for Cuba
Then it was the turn of the new Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal, Her Excellency Viviane Laure Elisabeth, whom the Cuban President commended for the leadership that the Senegalese President has shown within the African Union, an organization that has always shown his support for Cuba’s fight against the US government blockade.
Her Excellency Viviane Laure Elisabeth, the new Ambassador of Senegal, referred to her country’s determination to further strengthen bilateral relations. Photo: Revolution Studios.
During the solemn audience, which took place in the well-known Hall of Próceres, the new Senegalese Ambassador referred to her country’s will to further strengthen bilateral relations and promote cooperation in areas such as health, education and culture.
New opportunity to cultivate relationships
After receiving the letters accrediting His Excellency Mr. Ferir Hoxha as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania to the Greater Antilles, the Cuban Head of State saw this moment as a new opportunity to continue the development of bilateral relations between the two nations and thanked him for it the Albanian government for their support in the United Nations for voting against the blockade.
“We hope that your presence here will mark a milestone in bilateral relations,” he said.
“We have a lot to share,” said Ferir Hoxha, who expressed his joy at being in Cuba and being able to promote relations between the two countries.
Cuban doctors in the heart of the Kenyan people
At the end of the ceremony, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to Cuba, His Excellency Mr. Gathoga Wanyoike, presented his credentials, which the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party expressed the pleasure and honor of receiving.
With visible satisfaction, he also referred to the historical ties that bind the two countries, with strong ties of cooperation and joint work.
The Head of State particularly thanked all the efforts made by the African nation to rescue the Cuban doctors Landy Rodríguez Hernández and Assel Herrera Correa kidnapped on Kenyan territory more than three years ago.
“Cuban doctors have managed to sneak into the heart of the Kenyan people; her work in the communities is admirable,” praised the new ambassador to Cuba with gratitude.