CUBA: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues his first visit to Cuba and meets with President Raul Castro

Record ID: 278649

  • Title: CUBA: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues his first visit to Cuba and meets with President Raul Castro
  • Date: 29th June 2010
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (JUNE 28, 2010) (REUTERS) MILITARY GUARD CARRY FLORAL WREATH TO PLACE UNDER THE JOSE MARTI MONUMENT IN THE REVOLUTION PLAZA AL-ASSAD AND CUBA'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MARCOS RODRIGUEZ WALKING BEHIND FLORAL WREATH TRUMPET
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Reuters ID: LVA88O4XNOL73Q9CG11757TK1VTR
  • Story Text: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Cuban President Raul Castro in Cuba on Monday (June 28) on the second stop of a Latin American tour that includes Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina.
    A welcome ceremony with an honour guard took place for Al-Assad and his wife Asma.
    The Syrian leader met with Castro to sign a series of accords to strengthen political and economic cooperation between the two countries.
    On Monday, Al-Assad paid homage to national hero Jose Marti and laid a flower wreath at his monument in the Revolution plaza located in the middle of the capital Havana. Also attending was Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Marcos Rodriguez.
    This is al-Assad's first visit to Cuba. Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro went to Syria in May, 2001 just after al-Assad took over after his father Hafez, died in June, 2000.
    Cuba is often seen as a traditional ally of several MidEastern countries. After breaking relations with Israel in 1973, Fidel Castro sent tanks to support the Syrians in the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War.
    Damascus and Havana established diplomatic relations in 1965 and have had a smooth commercial and political relationship since.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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