Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs meets with Vice-President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power of Cuba
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachyov had a meeting with Vice-President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power (Parliament) of Cuba Ana Maria Mary Machado, who has come to Moscow to attend the Second Development of Parliamentarism International Forum.
“The privileged nature of Russian-Cuban relations, which are immune to political factors, determines ties between our parliaments,” Konstantin Kosachyov noted.
“Russia and Cuba hold similar positions on nearly all issues on the international agenda and are both subjected to Western sanctions. This is why Russian MPs resolutely condemn the continued US economic, trade and financial blockade of Cuba and will continue condemning it at all international venues, including the UN,” the Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs pointed out.
He added that the Federation Council’s support for Cuba is a consensus position among Russian MPs.
Konstantin Kosachyov and Ana Maria Mary Machado had a framework discussion on interparliamentary visits and the implementation of agreements reached at the high parliamentary level. In particular, they talked about the training of Cuban students at Russian universities, Russia’s assistance in the restoration of historical landmarks in the Cuban capital and the idea of opening a branch of the Russian Museum in Havana.
Konstantin Kosachyov and Ana Maria Mary Machado also discussed what their parliaments could do to promote the idea of the inadmissibility of sanctions against MPs. The Russian MP recalled that the Federation Council Speaker had proposed rallying the efforts of MPs from around the world to encourage the UN to adopt a resolution that would formalise this principle.
Konstantin Kosachyov set out the steps the Russian side would take towards this end. In particular, the platform of the Interparliamentary Union will be used to denounce sanctions as an inhumane solution that affects the interests of ordinary people, threatens sustainable development and infringes on the principles of democracy and voters’ rights.
The Vice-President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power (Parliament) of Cuba spoke about the good relations between the Cuban and the Russian peoples. She also mentioned Russia’s considerable assistance to Cuba, including at the parliamentary level.
Ana Maria Mary Machado supported the proposals voiced by Konstantin Kosachyov during their meeting.