Cuban chancellor Felipe Perez Roque noted the excellent relations between his country and Guatemala that, he said "were boosted with the election of President Alvaro Colom to the presidency."

Perez Roque visited the country for the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) on women, and was received by the Guatemalan president with whom he discussed issues of bilateral, regional and international interest.

In a press conference at the end of the meeting Roque explained the political dialogue between the two governments and the broad cooperation with that country, particularly in health, the formation of human resources and literacy campaigns.

He recalled that there are currently hundreds of Cuban physicians working here in hospitals performing eye surgery, free of charge, on more than 41,000 patients of low income and more than 800 Guatemalan youths are studying in Havana.

"We expect the next visit of President Alvaro Colom to Cuba will serve the strengthen relations between our two countries," Perez Roque told Prensa Latina.

The minister expressed appreciation for the firm position of Guatemala and Latin America over the international demand before the UN General Assembly to put an end to the criminal blockade imposed by the United States against his country.

During his speech in the NAM meeting, Perez Roque affirmed that a visit to Guatemala for any Cuban is of special significance due to the historical ties and brotherhood that bonded the two peoples since Jose Marti was received in that land.

The chancellor considered the historical importance of the meeting on women in a Latin American nation and expressed appreciation of the efforts of the government to guarantee optimum conditions and organization for the forthcoming visit.