MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lavrov strengthens Moscow's ties with Havanna

Raúl Castro (left) also met with Díaz-Canel (center) and the Russian dignitary (right)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Thursday told Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel that Moscow continued to reject the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by Washington on Havanna. The Russian diplomat also met with former President Raúl Castro and with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla during the last stop of his Latin America and Caribbean tour which included Brazil, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

In statements to the press later in the day, Rodríguez Parrilla highlighted the way bilateral dialogue was developing while Lavrov pledged to continue to work against the US Government's hegemonist conception of the world and in favor of the equal sovereignty of States.

“We will continue to work together in the international arena to mobilize the countries that also reject such a dictate, to work together for the formation of a multipolar world order in full compliance with the UN charter,” Lavrov said while ratifying Moscow's rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington for more than 60 years. Lavrov also placed a wreath in front of Cuban national hero José Martí's monument in Havana's 13 de Marzo Park.

Rodriguez Parrilla also thanked the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin for its support during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as for its backing in the struggle against the US blockade. Cuba's top diplomat also expressed his condemned the sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia and rejected NATO's expansion, while he advocated for a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian conflict.

As a result of Lavrov's trip, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz will visit Moscow next June, while visits of high-ranking representatives of the Russian government to Cuba are also planned for the coming months. “I invited the Foreign Minister of Cuba to make a reciprocal visit to Russia. I believe we will be able to announce the schedule in the foreseeable future,” Lavrov said. The Cuban Foreign Minister visited Moscow in November last year as a member of the delegation accompanying Díaz-Canel during a visit to Russia.