Cuban Parliament President Ends Visit to Ethiopia
Cuban Parliament President Esteban Lazo departed from Ethiopia today, after attending the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and reconfirming Cuba's solidarity with Africa.
Lazo and his accompanying delegation were bid farewell at the Addis Ababa international airport by Ethiopian government officials, who reiterated their gratitude to Cuba for its stable support of African causes over decades.
The president of the People's Power National Assembly, the top legislative body in Cuba, delivered a welcome speech on May 25, when the OAU, a body that was replaced in 2002 by the African Union (AU), marked its fiftieth anniversary.
"Cuba has confirmed its decision to continue strengthening the ties of brotherhood forged to date, and its willingness to continue contributing to the development of the continent through different forms of cooperation," Lazo told the gathered heads of State and Government.
Lazo also extolled the inheritance bequeathed to his country by Africa, which he described as the "mother continent," noting that the Caribbean nation's President, Raul Castro, and the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, "deeply appreciate the invitations."
During his speech for the 50th anniversary of the OAU/AU, the leader recalled that Cuba "is an important part of the African diaspora, and has historical ties through "the blood of slaves forcibly uprooted from their lands and taken to our island."
At the bilateral level, Lazo was received by Ethiopia's President Girma Woldegiorgios, and also talked with Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn, as well as speaking with the head of the secretariat of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, Rewan Hussein.
Another Ethiopian partner was the president of the National Parliament, Abadulla Gemeda Dago, who along with Hussein thanked Cuba for its cooperation with this African country, and reaffirmed his rejection of the U.S. economic blockade on the island.
Among the contacts parallel to the 21st ordinary summit of the AU, the Cuban parliamentary leader met with the heads of State from South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and the Seychelles' James Michel, Angolan Vice President Manuel Vicente, and the President of the Pan-African Parliament, Suelma Beinuk.
The Cuban representative greeted the Brazilian Head of State Dilma Rousseff, Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson, and was received separately by the president and vice president of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Erasmus Mwanche, respectively.
In addition to its observer status at the AU, Cuba was invited at the highest level to the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the OAU, based on its close ties of brotherhood and cooperation, as well as the solidarity it has shown this continent since the triumph of Revolution in 1959.
Lazo and his accompanying delegation were bid farewell at the Addis Ababa international airport by Ethiopian government officials, who reiterated their gratitude to Cuba for its stable support of African causes over decades.
The president of the People's Power National Assembly, the top legislative body in Cuba, delivered a welcome speech on May 25, when the OAU, a body that was replaced in 2002 by the African Union (AU), marked its fiftieth anniversary.
"Cuba has confirmed its decision to continue strengthening the ties of brotherhood forged to date, and its willingness to continue contributing to the development of the continent through different forms of cooperation," Lazo told the gathered heads of State and Government.
Lazo also extolled the inheritance bequeathed to his country by Africa, which he described as the "mother continent," noting that the Caribbean nation's President, Raul Castro, and the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, "deeply appreciate the invitations."
During his speech for the 50th anniversary of the OAU/AU, the leader recalled that Cuba "is an important part of the African diaspora, and has historical ties through "the blood of slaves forcibly uprooted from their lands and taken to our island."
At the bilateral level, Lazo was received by Ethiopia's President Girma Woldegiorgios, and also talked with Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn, as well as speaking with the head of the secretariat of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, Rewan Hussein.
Another Ethiopian partner was the president of the National Parliament, Abadulla Gemeda Dago, who along with Hussein thanked Cuba for its cooperation with this African country, and reaffirmed his rejection of the U.S. economic blockade on the island.
Among the contacts parallel to the 21st ordinary summit of the AU, the Cuban parliamentary leader met with the heads of State from South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and the Seychelles' James Michel, Angolan Vice President Manuel Vicente, and the President of the Pan-African Parliament, Suelma Beinuk.
The Cuban representative greeted the Brazilian Head of State Dilma Rousseff, Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson, and was received separately by the president and vice president of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Erasmus Mwanche, respectively.
In addition to its observer status at the AU, Cuba was invited at the highest level to the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the OAU, based on its close ties of brotherhood and cooperation, as well as the solidarity it has shown this continent since the triumph of Revolution in 1959.
Source:
Prensa Latina
Date:
28/05/2013