A key task for the parliaments of Russia and Cuba is the simultaneous ratification of bilateral agreements, Valentina Matvienko said.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with Esteban Lazo Hernandez, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the State Council of the Republic of Cuba. The meeting was conducted via video link.
Also attending were Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, and Russian senators Andrei Shevchenko, head of the group for cooperation between the Federation Council and the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba, and Ivan Abramov.
Valentina Matvienko noted that in recent years, Russia and Cuba have reached a new, higher level of cooperation.
“A key task for the parliaments of Russia and Cuba is the simultaneous execution of ratification procedures based on the agreements reached, as well as the creation of favourable conditions for their prompt implementation,” Valentina Matvienko emphasised. “This year, we successfully accomplished this task: a package of protocols was ratified, introducing amendments to the Russian-Cuban intergovernmental agreements,” she said.
Valentina Matvienko also noted the effective work of the friendship group between the Federation Council and the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba.
The Federation Council Speaker further noted that collaboration between Russian regions and Cuban provinces is progressing in a constructive manner.
On behalf of the Federation Council, the Speaker reaffirmed its commitment to resolutely support Havana’s just demands for the immediate cessation of Washington’s economic, trade, and financial blockade of Cuba.
Valentina Matvienko also reminded the meeting participants that the 11th Nevsky International Ecological Congress will take place in St Petersburg in May 2025. The Speaker extended an invitation to her Cuban colleagues to participate in this event.
The meeting participants discussed topics such as the education of Cubans in Russian universities and the implementation of the Russian Teacher Abroad project in Cuba, which receives comprehensive support from the Federation Council.
Esteban Lazo Hernandez said that Russia and Cuba’s parliamentarians maintain strong ties and emphasised their crucial role in the implementation of agreements reached by the leaders of both countries.
Esteban Lazo Hernandez also expressed his gratitude to the senators for their ongoing support of Havana.