Cuban President discusses bilateral relations with US lawmakers

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Dec 2022 08:58

The Cuban President says he expressed the need to put an end to measures that harm Cubans during the meeting.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel with a group of US lawmakers

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed on Saturday that he met with a group of US lawmakers from the lower chamber of Congress.

"I welcomed a delegation from the US Congress chaired by James McGovern. We addressed our differences and topics of common interest," Diaz-Canel wrote on Twitter.

He pointed out that "the shared will to improve bilateral relations was reiterated. I expressed the need to put an end to measures that harm the Cuban population."

Recibí a delegación del Congreso de EEUU presidida por James McGovern. Abordamos nuestras diferencias y temas de interés común. Se ratificó la voluntad compartida de mejorar las relaciones bilaterales. Expresé la necesidad de poner fin a medidas que dañan a la población cubana. pic.twitter.com/qNWbxvJwCd
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) December 10, 2022

It is noteworthy that US Congressman Jim McGovern represents the Second District of Massachusetts in the House of Representatives and has been a longtime advocate of normalizing relations with Cuba.

In September, the US Embassy in Havana announced that the United States was going to resume full immigrant visa processing services in Cuba in early 2023.

Last month, Diaz-Canel concluded a tour of Russia, China, Algeria, and Turkey in pursuit of energy supplies amid a US-imposed blockade on the Caribbean Island, which has been causing blackouts and fuel shortages.

Cuba has been under US sanctions for more than 60 years, leading its energy sector to rely on foreign parties, prompting Havana to sign energy sector-related agreements with the four host countries that Diaz-Canel said extended "official invitations" for him to visit.

Algeria, Russia, and Venezuela supply Cuba with oil, while several Cuban power plants rely on Soviet or Russian technology.

Meanwhile, China is Cuba's second-largest trading partner after Venezuela and a key ally for Havana.

According to the Cuban government, China donated $100 million to Cuba in the context of Diaz-Canel's visit to Beijing, assuring that the sum will be used for "public priorities".

In mid-November, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the cancellation of all interests on Algeria's debts to Cuba and the postponement of their payment.