The Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Cuba, Ljubisa Stojmirovic, said that the Parliamentary Friendship Group comprises MPs who share a sincere appreciation of the Cuban people, adding that he hoped the future cooperation between Cuba and Serbia would be even better, especially in view of the fact that this year marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Havana and Belgrade. The 37-member Parliamentary Friendship Group with Cuba, as one of the biggest at the National Assembly, will particularly contribute to it, stressed Stojmirovic.
The members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Cuba informed Ambassador Valdes on the types of cooperation which could be developed, especially since Serbia and Cuba share the same values and are still to use all the potential and opportunities for cooperation both in the political and economic sphere. They affirmed that the friendship between the people of Serbia and Cuba is steadfast, stressing that the existing cooperation could be improved in the spheres of sports, medicine, healthcare, science and research, as well as education and student exchange.
The Cuban Ambassador commended the establishment of the National Assembly’s Parliamentary Friendship Group, briefing the Parliamentary Friendship Group members on the current political and economic situation in Cuba, exacerbated by the global economic crisis, sanctions and natural disasters afflicting the country. She gave the Parliamentary Friendship Group members detailed information about the results of the last popular census and the results of the recent local elections. The Ambassador also shared facts about her country’s economic policies, primarily those relating to the application of the economic and social development platform in Cuba, which have contributed to economic development and expansion into the private sector, institutional changes as well as the introduction of a new migration policy. The Ambassador finished the presentation of her country by presenting the organisation and functioning of the Cuban Parliament and its special emphasis on gender equality.
In addition to the Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Cuba, the meeting with the Cuban Ambassadors was also attended by Parliamentary Friendship Group members Petar Skundric, Dubravka Filipovski, Aleksandar Pejcic, Ruzica Igic, Mileta Poskurica, Nikola Tulimirovic, Dragan Todorovic, Stefana Miladinovic, Milanka Jevtovic Vukojicic and Neven Cveticanin.