Photo: Cubaminrex

Havana, December 16 (RHC)-- The headquarters of the Irish Foreign Ministry recently witnessed the signing of a bilateral memorandum of cooperation in the field of Physical Education and sport between Cuba and Ireland. 

The signing expresses the intention of both parties to promote bilateral relations between their sports organizations.

The memorandum was agreed between Inder and the Irish Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaelic, Sport and Media.

The ceremony was presided over by the director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Foreign Ministry, Ciara O'Floinn, and included the virtual participation of the Irish ambassador to Cuba, Maeve von Heynitz, who is based in Mexico.

The Cuban ambassador, Bernardo Guanche Hernández, proceeded to sign it on behalf of the president of Inder, Osvaldo Vento Montiller. The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports, Cian Ó Lionáin, did so on behalf of the Irish Minister of State for Sports, Jack Chambers.

The memorandum includes, among other cooperation actions, the participation of athletes and coaches in competitions, tournaments, trainings, courses, events organized by the sports federations of Cuba and Ireland and the preparation for the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

The Cuban diplomat described the agreement as an important contribution to the historic and excellent bilateral relations between Cuba and Ireland. He also thanked the joint effort made by the sports institutions of both countries and their respective chancelleries.

He recalled the words of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, during the visit of his Cuban counterpart Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez in October 2019. On that occasion, the former highlighted the importance of the connection between both nations as a way to build a better future.

Referring to other areas in charge of this Irish ministry, the ambassador proposed exploring the possibility of greater cooperation in the areas of art and culture. As an example, he pointed out that Cuba would deepen its culture by reading more Irish writers, such as Oscar Wilde, while the Irish would enjoy reading the writings of José Martí in his chronicle on this writer, published by the Buenos Aires newspaper La Nación on December 10, 1882.