Cuba Advocates European-Latin American Cooperation

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuba stressed the importance of ultilateralism and mutually advantageous cooperation, during the 14th Ministerial Conference between the European Union (EU) and the Rio Group (GRIO), which concluded in Prague.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez warned against the propensity towards selectivity of some of the more powerful and developed nations, reported Prensa Latina. Regarding the cooperation mechanism between the EU and GRIO,he said that it remains to be seen if there is genuine political will to establish a strategic alliance.

Cooperation, as seen through the eyes of the EU-GRIO ought to be mutually beneficial for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, affirmed the Foreign minister.

In this regard, he said that willingness could be demonstrated by carrying out the Aid for Development programme, cancelling the foreign debt, eliminating subsidies, and curbing brain drain and discriminatory migratory policies.

Rodriguez pointed out that energy concerns and environmental threats such as climate change are closely linked to irrational and unsustainable production and consumption patterns in rich countries.

He said that along with pursuing more efficient practices and sustainable energy sources, changing consumption patterns needs to be a primary concern.

Bruno Rodríguez said that Cuba is working hard at promoting energy consciousness and efficiency at home to reduce consumption, and cooperating in this endeavor with 16 countries.

The Cuban Foreign minister also spoke about regional energy initiatives such as PetroCaribe and reiterated his country's opposition to using farmland to produce biofuels.

(Abogan por colaboración ventajosa de Europa y Latinoamérica)

Cuba Advocates European-Latin American Cooperation

HAVANA, Cuba. Cuba stressed the importance of ultilateralism and mutually advantageous cooperation, during the 14th Ministerial Conference between the European Union (EU) and the Rio Group (GRIO), which concluded in Prague.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez warned against the propensity towards selectivity of some of the more powerful and developed nations, reported Prensa Latina. Regarding the cooperation mechanism between the EU and GRIO,he said that it remains to be seen if there is genuine political will to establish a strategic alliance.

Cooperation, as seen through the eyes of the EU-GRIO ought to be mutually beneficial for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, affirmed the Foreign minister.

In this regard, he said that willingness could be demonstrated by carrying out the Aid for Development programme, cancelling the foreign debt, eliminating subsidies, and curbing brain drain and discriminatory migratory policies.

Rodriguez pointed out that energy concerns and environmental threats such as climate change are closely linked to irrational and unsustainable production and consumption patterns in rich countries.

He said that along with pursuing more efficient practices and sustainable energy sources, changing consumption patterns needs to be a primary concern.

Bruno Rodríguez said that Cuba is working hard at promoting energy consciousness and efficiency at home to reduce consumption, and cooperating in this endeavor with 16 countries.

The Cuban Foreign minister also spoke about regional energy initiatives such as PetroCaribe and reiterated his country's opposition to using farmland to produce biofuels.

(Abogan por colaboración ventajosa de Europa y Latinoamérica)

European Commission and Cuba Expand Cooperation

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 19 (acn) The European Commission (EC) and Cuba expanded their links for cooperation and perspectives of working together, with the inauguration on Thursday in Havana of a meeting on bilateral cooperation.

During the opening of the event at the Meliá Habana Hotel, the Cuban Minister for Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, ratified the willingness of continuing these ties with the EC, on the basis of respect and without conditions.

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis ichel, pointed out that the important advances of the Caribbean archipelago in various spheres make it possible to strengthen this dialogue, i.e. education, health, the training of human resources, and the environment.

The vice-president of the European Parliament (EP) Miguel Ángel Martínez, rejected the policy of sanctions and the attempts to condition the dialogue and cooperation of the European Union with the archipelago. He criticized the anti-Cuban Common Position of interference of the mega-
bloc, which the friendship-with-Cuba group he presides over will fight to eliminate.

For two days, the conference will examine themes like food security, economic cooperation and trade, research and development, regional programs in Latin America, and the environment.

Moreover, it will centre its attention in renewable energy, climate change, disaster risk reduction and social sectors.

Also on Thursday, attention was drawn to the perspectives of advancing in regional economic integration that have opened up for Cuba with the Bolivarian Alternative for The Americas (ALBA) and other options to boost ties with Latin American and Caribbean nations.

Cuba has over 51,000 voluntary workers in more than 100 countries, as well as some 30,000 foreign scholarship students in educational centres in the archipelago -a clear commitment in the struggle against underdevelopment.


(Comisión Europea y Cuba amplían vínculos de cooperación)