President James Michel met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba,  Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla at State House, this morning. Mr. Parrilla and his delegation are on a one day working visit in Seychelles, as part of a regional diplomatic tour.

The President welcomed Minister Parrilla on his first visit to Seychelles and expressed his gratitude for the on-going support provided by the Republic of Cuba as well as acknowledging the consistent effort to strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two countries.

"The Government of Seychelles wishes to express its gratitude towards the on-going cooperation with the Republic of Cuba and which has been successful. It is a testimony of the deep-rooted and close relationship that exists between our two nations, undoubtedly strengthened by the many instances of positive collaboration. Through its support it is evident and its consistent effort to strengthen our longstanding friendship whereby we share common causes and aspirations,” said President Michel.

During the meeting, President Michel and Minister Parilla discussed areas in which Seychelles and Cuba shared mutual interests such as the fight against Climate Change and the Blue Economy concept, and the interest of the Republic of Cuba to enhance its relations with the African Union, Latin Africa, Caribbean states and other small islands in the Pacific.

“We can work together and support one another in the interests of the small island nations in order to promote peace. I thank the Republic of Cuba for supporting Seychelles in its fight against Climate Change and for promoting the Blue Economy concept. The ocean is very important for us and we must find ways to retain its ownership and we know that we can count on Cuba for the mutual support,” Mr. Michel highlighted.

On his part Mr. Parrilla expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality received since his arrival in Seychelles and how pleased he is with the level of which the relations between Seychelles and Cuba . He further reiterated Cuba’s commitment in the participating constructively in all areas of cooperation whereby both countries shares common goals and challenges.

“My presence here is an expression of the excellent development of bilateral relations between Seychelles and Cuba. Our full willingness to enhance them and at the same time the recognition that there is a potential, it’s a promising moment and we could continue working together, not only in a bilateral way and we are fully committed for a reciprocal cooperation in different fields, mostly in health, occupational, pharmaceutical, biotological sectors among others,” said Mr. Parrilla.

Editor’s Note:

•    Present at the meeting were also the Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, the Secretary General of the Executive Office of the President, Mrs. Lise Bastienne, the President's Diplomatic Adviser, Ambassador Callixte d'Offay, Mr. Orlando Alvarez, Chargé D’Affaires at the Cuban Embassy, Mr. Angel Villa Hernandez, Director of Subsaharan Africa Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cuba), Mr. Ernesto Gomez Diaz, Advisor to the Minister (Cuba), Mrs. Beatriz Munoz Monzon , Interpreter (Cuba).

•    Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and Cuba were established in 1978.