Guatemala's President is in Cuba for Official Visit

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 15 (acn) Guatemala's President Alvaro Colom Caballeros arrived in Cuba on Sunday for an official visit, that will begin on Monday, at the invitation of Cuba's head of state Raul Castro Ruz.

The Guatemalan President was welcomed at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport by Jose Ramon Balaguer, member of the Political Bureau of Cuba's Communist Party and Health Minister, and by Guatemalan ambassador to Havana Gerber Meneses.

In statements to the local and foreign press, Alvaro Colom condemned the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, which he described as unjust and anachronic policy.

He said his visit to Cuba is aimed at expanding friendly and cooperation relations between both countries and that, if possible, he will grant the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro the top Guatemalan distinction.

The Guatemalan President also underscored the benefits of Cuba's medical cooperation, particularly the Operation Miracle free eye surgery program, which returned the sight to thousands Guatemalans.

Diplomatic relations between Cuba and Guatemala were reestablished January 27, 1998, under the Alvaro Arzu administration. At present 484 Cuban workersare offering their services in that country, mainly in the areas of health, education, sports, agriculture and others.

Some 620 Guatemalan professionals have graduated from Cuban education centers, 507 of them graduated as medical doctors.

President Alvaro Colom and his delegation will be officially welcomed on Monday. The Guatemalan head of state will also hold official talks with Cuban President Raul Castro and he will pay tribute to Cuban Nationa Hero Jose Marti. Colom will attend an entrepreneurial encounter between Cuban and Guatemalan business people.

The distinguished visitor will inaugurate a park dedicated to the friendship uniting Guatemala and Cuba.

At present ongoing cooperation projects between both countries favor the education field, given the interest by Alvaro Colom in declaring his country free of illiteracy in 2009. Some 1, 537 Guatemalan citizens have learned how to read and write with the assistance of the Cuban methodology known as "Yes, I Can."

(Llegó a Cuba Alvaro Colom, presidente de Guatemala)