First Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura yesterday received Héctor Ricardo Lacognata Zaragoza, minister of foreign relations of the Republic of Paraguay, who is on an official visit to Cuba. 

During a cordial exchange, the two leaders expressed their satisfaction at the current state of bilateral relations and confirmed the will of their government to further develop and extend the links between Paraguay and Cuba. They also discussed issues in the international context. 

Machado Ventura thanked Foreign Minister Lacognata for Paraguay’s traditional support for the struggle of the Cuban people and government against the unjust blockade imposed by the United States, as well as its government’s solidarity in terms of the release of the five Cuban heroes. 

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by Roberto Benítez Fernández, director of bilateral policies, and other officials from the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parilla was present on the Cuban side.