Cuba, Australia boost ties during FM visit
Posted: 24 November 2009 1157 hrs

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HAVANA: Cuba and Australia have decided to strengthen their 20-year relationship, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said on Monday at the start of a two-day visit to Havana.

"I see my visit here very much as the first step in our relationship to enhance good working and productive relationships between Australia and Cuba," Smith told Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Smith's visit, the first by an Australian foreign minister in 15 years, comes two decades after Canberra moved to establish closer relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.

"Australia wants to enhance its engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean, not just with individual countries like Cuba, but also about working close to development regional organizations like CARICOM," Smith said, referring to the Caribbean Community.

He said he was pleased at how Cuba and Australia have been working "much closer together" in the past two years in international organisations "particularly in the United Nations".

Rodriguez said Cuba "appreciates" Australia's role in the international community and noted how both countries shared common views on issues including climate change, free trade and in opposing unilateral restrictive measures.

"I am deeply thankful for Australia's vote (in the UN General Assembly) against the United States' (economic) embargo of Cuba and we are pleased with the progress our relationship is making," said Cuba's top diplomat.

The two officials signed a memorandum to establish regular contact and political consultation between their two foreign ministries.

Smith also met on Monday with Cuba's first Vice President Jose Machado, to discuss developing scientific, cultural, business projects, according to local media.

Bilateral trade between Cuba and Australia reached 11.5 million dollars in 2008, more than half in Australia's favour.


- AFP/so