Havana, April 14 (RHC)-- The friendship between Cuba and Grenada, as well as the will of both countries to continue expanding ties was evident on Saturday in Havana at an event on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations.

The ceremony, held at the San Geronimo University College, was led by Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, and Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, who is on an official visit to the island on the occasion.

Prime Minister Mitchell called Cuba a true and indefatigable friend, standard bearer of solidarity to the farthest corners and who has done so much for the peoples of the world.

The dignitary asked for a minute of silence to honor the memory of the Cubans and Grenadians who died during the U.S. invasion of his country in 1983.

On the day that marks the beginning of diplomatic ties, he emphasized that it could not be overlooked given the priority given to relations with Cuba, as well as the will to strengthen and deepen them.  He also took advantage of the platform to condemn the criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on the island while highlighting Cuba's capacity to always maintain solidarity and humanity in spite of the policy of pressure.

On the Cuban side, Salvador Valdés Mesa, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party and Vice President of the Republic, expressed his satisfaction to see that both nations are making firm and decisive progress in the consolidation of ties.

Valdés Mesa assured that from the first moment they have worked together for mutual benefit, which has been translated into the granting of scholarships, medical collaboration and in several areas such as education and construction.

In this way, he thanked Grenada for its unrestricted support to the Cuban causes for the end of the blockade and the exclusion from the unilateral list of alleged State sponsors of terrorism.

The history of Grenada is that of the peoples of the Caribbean and their heroic resistance to the European colonizers and in that indelible bridges of closeness are established, he added.

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and part of the Caribbean diplomatic corps accredited in Havana also participated in the ceremony.

Throughout more than four decades of relations established on April 14, 1979, the largest of the Antilles has contributed to train more than 300 Grenadian professionals in higher education and hosts scholarship holders in various careers, mainly in health.    (Source: ACN)