CUBA: Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa in Cuba to normalize shaky relations

Record ID: 300496

  • Title: CUBA: Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa in Cuba to normalize shaky relations
  • Date: 12th December 2009
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (DECEMBER 11, 2009) (REUTERS) MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER PATRICIA ESPINOSA ARRIVES WITH OTHER OFFICIALS AND LAYS A FLORAL OFFERING AT THE JOSE MARTI MONUMENT IN HAVANA'S REVOLUTION SQUARE JOSE MARTI MONUMENT
  • Embargoed: 27th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Reuters ID: LVA3S12AQ8Y3DAW7ROUQZ4I1WC1L
  • Story Text: Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa was in Cuba Friday (December 11) aiming to normalize relations with the island nation after ties strained during the height of the swine flu epidemic last spring.
    Espinosa arrived in Havana and paid homage at the Jose Marti monument in the capital city's historic Revolution Square.
    Relations between the two countries faced a setback in April when former Cuban leader Fidel Castro accused Mexico's government of not revealing an outbreak of H1N1 flu during a visit from United States President Barack Obama.
    Mexico denied the charges and President Felipe Calderon canceled a planned visit to the island nation as Cuba suspended flights from Mexico.
    Espinosa was greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez before the two met to discuss political, economic, commercial, financial, immigration, human rights and legal relations.
    Rodriguez welcomed Espinosa and thanked Mexico for its support against the US trade embargo that has been in place since 1962.
    "I wanted to express great gratitude from Cuba for the solid, traditional, and historic position Mexico has taken in opposing the blockade from the United States," said Rodriguez.
    Espinosa said Calderon and the Mexican people hope to build on historic ties as they look to strengthen relations.
    "We come with a message from the president, with a message from the Mexican people, that Mexico and Cuba our friends. They are countries that have a historic and fraternal relationship and that our governments should make sure that our governmental relationship reflects these strong historic links that we have," said Espinosa.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register