Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- “The brotherhood shared by Cuba and Timor Leste is consolidated with every passing day,” the country’s ambassador in Havana, Maubere Lorosae da Silva Horta, told Granma International.

The Timorese diplomat expressed the gratitude of his government and people for the professional training received by young Timorese in Cuban universities.  He noted, for instance, that more than 950 young Timorese have graduated from the Latin American School of Medicine and have already returned to their country to offer their services to people in their own communities.

"The commitment made by the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro to train more than a thousand doctors from our nation, will soon be fulfilled, since in Cuban classrooms right now there are about a hundred of them," the diplomat said, noting that higher education institutions in the Caribbean state have trained teachers, technicians, agronomists, and other specialists from Timor Leste, who are playing a leading role in the economic development of the Southeastern Asian country.  He described bilateral relations between Cuba and Timor Leste as close, based on equality and mutual respect.

A Cuban medical brigade, made up of more than 300 health professionals is currently in Timor Leste, treating people in remote areas. The result of this collaboration, said the diplomat, is easily reflected in better quality of people's life and improved health statistics.

Cuba and Timor Leste established bilateral relations in May, 2002. Cuba was the second country, after China, to recognize Timor Leste's independence from Indonesia.

The ambassador from the Southeastern Asian country expressed confidence that both countries will continue to contribute to peace and sovereignty for the world’s peoples.  He added: "We hope that the friendship between Cuba and Timor Leste will remain very deep and close for many generations."