On Thursday, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ihor Kalyetnik met with the First Deputy Chairman of the Minister on Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba Marcelino Medina Gonzalez.
The issues of further activation of inter-parliamentary relations and deepening of integration processes between Ukraine and the Republic of Cuba were discussed during the meeting.
I.Kalyetnik was satisfied with the level of bilateral cooperation during the past three years. He stressed that the turnover was quite positive and increased by 18 %. He noted also that Ukraine pays significant attention to implementation of agreements between our states which were signed within the framework of the visit of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych to the Republic of Cuba in October 2011. Particularly, the agreements pertained to the sphere of transport, science, education, medicine and pharmaceutics. “These are extremely important directions which are to be developed and deepened,” the First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament said, adding that “this is not the limit and we still can deepen integration processes”.
I.Kalyetnik thanked Cuban guests for medical assistance provided by the Republic of Cuba within the “Children of Chornobyl” Program. He expressed hope that irrespective of the state financial problems, the Program will continue functioning.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada believes the possibility of experience exchange between Ukrainian and Cuban doctors and educators is extremely important, especially in view of high achievements of Cuban colleagues in the sphere of education and medical technologies.
I.Kalyetnik emphasized that deepening and intensification of inter-parliamentary relations, the important constituent of which is the activity of groups on inter-parliamentary relations, is especially important for activating cooperation between both countries. According to him, 14 applications of the people’s deputies of Ukraine have been referred to the newly created Ukrainian-Cuban group on inter-parliamentary relations.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed hope that inter-parliamentary relations will be seriously developed: “The more often we communicate, the more dynamically issues defined at the level of Ukrainian and Cuban authorities will be settled”.
In his turn, M.Gonzalez positively appreciated development of friendly relations between both countries and said that he “foresees great perspectives of further cooperation”. In particular, he supported activation of cooperation in the spheres of medicine, pharmaceutics, science, mining, engineering and aircraft industries.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Minister on Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba informed that cooper mining in Cuba, as well as purchase of Ukrainian planes are also prospective trends of cooperation. He added that the issue regarding three Ukrainian planes manufactured by Antonov plant has been positively resolved. “Business in the sphere of aircraft industry is extremely symbolic, for such planes can settle transport problems of both Cuban population and approximately thee million of tourists visiting Cuba annually,” he said.
Welcoming creation of inter-parliamentary groups both in Ukraine and Cuba, he said that inter-parliamentary relations are an important component of relations between the countries. He supported also further cooperation between our states at the level of parliaments.
At the end of the conversation, I.Kalyetnik expressed conviction that interrelations shall deepen and the commitments taken shall be fulfilled.