AKEL General Secretary meets with Cuba Ambassador

28 May 2020 Dialogos

The Cyprus problem, the coronavirus pandemic and the US sanctions against Cuba were the main issues discussed at the meeting held today between the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL Andros Kyprianou and the Cuban Ambassador to Cyprus Omar Leyva Rafull at AKEL’s central offices.

In his statements, the General Secretary of AKEL characterised the meeting he had with Mr. Rafull as extremely good and productive, noting that they have discussed numerous issues.

First and foremost, A.Kyprianou noted, they discussed the Cyprus problem. “We have exchanged some views. I briefed the Cuban Ambassador about the current situation on the Cyprus problem and the need to prepare the ground so that when the vote in the occupied territories is completed we can resume substantive negotiations,” he added.

We discussed, the General Secretary of AKEL continued, the situation, as it is developing in Latin America, where COVID 19 is currently reaching its peak.

“My friend the Cuban Ambassador has informed me about Cuba’s efforts to confront the problem. I want to congratulate Cuba because with the paltry means at its disposal, it has managed to confront the pandemic with the least possible losses, but not only that. They have expressed their solidarity by sending medical missions to 26 different places all around the world. This is extremely important, as it shows the solidarity that little Cuba is showing towards other countries much bigger than itself”, he added.

At the same time, A.Kyprianou noted, “I want to express our deep regret and displeasure because the United States has chosen to intensify sanctions against Cuba in these conditions, not caring about the loss of human life.”

As far as we are concerned, the General Secretary of AKEL said, we express once again our solidarity with the Cuban people, we express our warm thanks to the friendly country of Cuba, which has always strongly supported the struggle being waged by the Cypriot people.

Kyprianou assured the Cuban Ambassador that AKEL will always be on the side of Cuba and the Cuban people for all the rights they are asserting.

On his part, the Ambassador of Cuba to Cyprus Omar Leyva Rafull, speaking through an interpreter, thanked Mr. Kyprianou for the opportunity to be informed about the situation surrounding the Cyprus problem.

The Cuban Amabassador noted that during the meeting, they exchanged views on various issues regarding the situation in Cuba and Cyprus and about all the actions being taken in the two countries to deal with the coronavirus and pandemic.

“We exchanged views on the problems here in the region around Cyprus and our continent, Latin America. On this occasion, we expressed our thanks to AKEL for its support towards Cuba in its efforts to end the US blockade of Cuba,” the Cuban Ambassador added.

The Cuban Ambassador thanked and expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for the support it gives each year during the vote of the United Nations General Assembly to end the US blockade of Cuba.

“We also expressed our deep concern for the fact that 27 days after the 32 shots fired against our Embassy in Washington, which was a terrorist act, no action has yet been taken and we have not received the necessary answers under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Diplomacy missions”, the Ambassador of Cuba noted.

Finally, the Cuban Ambassador to Cyprus Omar Leyva Rafull thanked the Cypriot people, AKEL, the Cyprus-Cuba Friendship Association and the Association of Cubans living in Cyprus for their support and solidarity.

 

VIDEO: AKEL General Secretary-Cuban Ambassador meeting and statements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olRwYayv24w&feature=emb_title