Cuban-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission Underway in Baku

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Ricardo Guerrero Blanco, arrived on Monday in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, heading the Caribbean nation’s delegation to the second session of the Cuban-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission that began yesterday and concludes today in Baku.

Guerrero was welcomed by Dr. Nazim Samadov, Secretary of the Commission for the Azerbaijani side and also Director of Cultural Programs and International Bodies of the Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism.

Also present was the Cuban Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Marcelo Caballero Torres.

According to the Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism, Abulfaz Garayev, his country plans to participate in developing oil fields in Cuba in line with a draft cooperation agreement. “The accord is expected to be signed in the near future,” the Minister said.

Last year, Cuba produced around 4 million tons of oil, while Azerbaijan’s oil production reached 45 million tons.

On Monday, the sides also discussed cooperation in medicine, food production, culture and tourism.

The first meeting of the commission took place in Havana in November 2007.

(Celebran comisión mixta Cuba-Azerbaiján)