Photo: Latin Press.
The authorities of Russia and Cuba consider the analysis of objective conditions to restore commercial flights between the two countries in the shortest possible time.
Cuban Ambassador to Moscow Julio Garmendía said in statements to the newspaper Izvestia that efforts are being made to have, expected in the autumn, a definition of the measures that need to be taken to resume some flights in winter.
“We know that Russians are happy to return to Cuba on vacation, and Cubans await them with all the hospitality that characterizes them,” the diplomat said.
Garmendia recalled that the Eurasian nation was practically the only country to maintain an emission of tourists to the Caribbean island during the months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this regard he added For two years in a row, Russian tourism ranked first among the customers received at the largest of the Antillesand “today it is an important market for economic recovery,” he stressed.
Likewise, the head of the Cuban diplomatic mission added Since last year, Moscow and Havana have been working to implement Russia’s MIR payment system in the Caribbean country.
“The first phase of work is nearing completion, the aim of which is to connect the payment systems of both countries. This phase focused on the use of MIR cards at the island’s ATMs and that it can be expanded to cover the whole country,” the ambassador explained.
In this regard, he explained that for Cuba this is another opportunity for the banking and financial system to expand to other markets, with enormous potential that will greatly facilitate bilateral financial transactions.
Garmendia explained that the move will be a quick and sure advantage for the thousands of Russian visitors who will arrive in the Caribbean nation. “It is expected that by the end of this year it will be possible to use these cards on Cuban territory,” he said.
(With information from Prensa Latina)