Havana, March 3 (RHC)-- The 7th round of negotiations on EU-Cuba dialogue and cooperation began sessions Thursday at the headquarters of Cuba's Foreign Ministry in Havana.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abelardo Moreno Fernández, who is presiding the Cuban delegation, said the two sides are ready to advance towards a final agreement.

Moreno said that the upcoming visit to Havana of Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, set for March 10th, will contribute significantly to that end.

The Cuban deputy foreign minister recalled that Cuba is the only country in Latin America that has not signed a framework agreement with the European Union, something that could change dramatically by the end of the current round of negotiations on Friday.

The EU delegation to the talks is headed by Christian Leffler, Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Global Issues at European External Action Servic. In statements to the Cuban press, the EU official concurred with the Cuban deputy foreign minister that the timing is right to sign a bilateral agreement.

According to the Cuban Foreign Ministry, the EU-Cuba negotiations, which began in April 2014, have developed as equals on the basis of mutual respect. Subsequent rounds of talks have been held alternatively in Geneva and in Havana.