Ethiopia and Cuba, 49 Years of Solidarity and Mutual Respect

Havana, Jul 18 (RHC) Ethiopia and Cuba are celebrating 49 years of diplomatic relations characterized by solidarity, mutual respect and collaboration in several sectors, including education, health, hydraulics and sugar.

The ties of friendship between the two peoples were strengthened when in 1977 Cuban internationalist troops supported the Ethiopian troops against external annexationist attempts and 163 Caribbean combatants fell in combat.

The coordination of positions in bilateral and multilateral forums has been strengthened with the passage of time, such as the historical support of Addis Ababa to Havana against the U.S. blockade in the United Nations, the African Union, among other spaces.

Regarding governmental meetings at the highest level, the then Cuban ambassador here, Jorge Lefebre, in statements to Prensa Latina mentioned last September during the G77 and China Summit held on the island the participation of former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen with a large delegation.

Lefebre highlighted the gratitude expressed by Mekonnen to the Cuban authorities, the interviews with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, with Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and emphasized the gratitude to Cuba for the contribution during these years.

Another important moment in the strengthening of relations took place in the midst of the summit of the BRICS group, which at that time consisted only of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, held last August in Johannesburg.

Díaz-Canel spoke with Ahmed, something that was repeated at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between November and December 2023.

The Cuban diplomat also recalled Valdés Mesa's visit to this capital last November, during which he was received by the head of the Ethiopian government and they exchanged ideas on how to take this political relationship to the economic level, which is now one of the priorities of both countries. Another important moment was the reopening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Havana, in April 2023.

He recalled that due to the internal conflict they were forced by economic issues to close 30 diplomatic offices around the world and this year they reopened three, the first one was Cuba, he added. (Source: Prensa Latina)