A meeting took place between the Federation Council Speaker and the President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the State Council of the Republic of Cuba.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko had a meeting with President of the National Assembly of People's Power and State Council of the Republic of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez. The event was attended by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, head of the cooperation group of the Federation Council with the parliaments of Latin American countries Andrey Klishas, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs, head of the group on cooperation of the Federation Council with the National Assembly of People's Power of the Republic of Cuba Andrei Shevchenko, and group members: Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lyudmila Skakovskaya, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Yury Fedorov, member of the Federation Council Committee on Budget and Financial Markets Dina Oyun, and member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Andrey Chernyshev.
Valentina Matvienko stressed that the Federation Council regarded the further promotion of friendship and partnership with Cuba as an unconditional priority. This is reaffirmed in statements regularly adopted by the upper house demanding the lifting of the embargo and cancellation of other anti-Cuban decisions.
The Speaker gave assurances that the Russian parliamentarians would continue to support Cuba in protecting its independence and sovereignty, and fighting for the lifting of the illegitimate and inhumane trade, economic and financial blockade of the island.
Valentina Matvienko noted the importance of developing trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.
The Federation Council Speaker informed her counterpart that the Russian side has completed internal procedures for signing the draft intergovernmental Programme of Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation for 2023–2030.
The issue of the full launch of the MIR card in Cuba was also raised. “This will contribute not only to the growth of tourist flow to the island, but also to the strengthening of business, cultural and humanitarian ties.”
The opening of a branch of the Russian Museum in Cuba was also discussed. The implementation of this cultural and humanitarian project is gaining steam. The Cuban side announced its readiness to consider the option of both providing a separate building for the virtual branch of the Russian Museum, and premises in the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.
“I am sure that we cannot stop there. We have provided and will continue to provide possible assistance in a variety of areas,” Valentina Matvienko concluded.
Esteban Lazo Hernandez highly praised the importance of the Russia-Latin America parliamentary conference held in Moscow. According to him, the principle of multipolarity and justice without dictate and sanctions should prevail in the international space.