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Cuba and South
Africa commemorate 20 years of diplomacy
Anabel Díaz (photo)
May 9, José Ramón Machado Ventura, Second
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban
Communist Party (PCC) and Vice-President of the
Councils of State and of Ministers, officiated the
commemoration of 20 years of diplomatic relations
between Cuba and South Africa.
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José Ramón Machado Ventura, Second
Secretary of the Central Committee of
the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) and a
vice-President of the Councils of State
and of Ministers, officiated the
amicable event at the Cuban Ministry. |
The Ministry of Foreign Relations in Havana
hosted the celebration of May 11, 1994, historic
date of the official initiation of diplomatic
relations, validated by Comandante en Jefe Fidel
Castro Ruz’s visit to South Africa to attended the
release of outstanding President and anti-apartheid
leader Nelson Mandela.
Naphtal Manana, South African ambassador to Cuba,
recalled the country’s first democratic elections
free of abhorrent racial segregation and
discrimination, and highlighted the support offered
to his country and other African nations by Cubans,
many of whom gave their lives for freedom. "We are
grateful for this profound friendship and solidarity,
and we hope that these links continue to be
strengthened in all spheres", emphasized Manana.
During his speech - attended by members of the
Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party;
Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National
Assembly of People’s Power; Minister Bruno Rodríguez
Parrilla and Álvaro López Miera, Decorated Hero of
the Cuban Republic, deputy minister of the
Revolutionary Armed Forces and head of General Staff
- Manana stated, "We are mutual beneficiaries of a
very special relationship."
Marcelino Medina, deputy minister of Foreign
Relations, emphasized that the commemoration took
place during the same week as the South African
people are, once again, holding elections free from
racial discrimination and apartheid. He commented
that the establishment, 20 years ago, of diplomatic
relations between the two countries, was the first
foreign policy move made by the Mandela government,
and recalled the creation of the Cuba-South Africa
Friendship Association in 1995, the year in which
the continuous development of this bilateral
collaboration began.
Medina also commented that to date, 630 young
South Africans have graduated from Cuban
universities, with 2138 currently studying in the
country. He reiterated the country’s commitment to
the continuation of cooperation, in the context of
20 years of diplomatic relations based upon equality
and social justice. He also thanked South Africa for
its position in the United Nations, in opposition to
the economic blockade imposed on Cuba by the United
States, and the support it has shown for the Cuban
Five, unjustly imprisoned by U.S. courts. (AIN)
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