The First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov
Ivan Ivanovich
held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Cuba Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla at the State
Duma. The meeting was held on behalf of the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav
Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
.
The meeting participants discussed issues related to development of comprehensive cooperation between Russia and Cuba, including at the inter-parliamentary level, as well as joining efforts to counter challenges and threats that both states face at the international level.
“Cuba is our key strategic partner in the Latin American region. Our states share the similar views on fundamental issues on the international agenda,” emphasized Ivan Melnikov opening the meeting.
According to him, “Washington has launched an aggressive campaign against Cuba following the military operation in Venezuela on January 3”. Ivan Melnikov assured his Cuban colleagues that Russia “is always on the side of Cuba”.
“We will do everything possible at the parliamentary level to provide feasible assistance to the fraternal Cuban people. On all international platforms, we consistently stand for putting an end to the US trade, economic and financial embargo against the island and removing Cuba from the US list of states of the so-called sponsors of terrorism,” stressed the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma and added that the Russian parliamentarians adopt the relevant statements condemning the US embargo against Cuba every year.
“Such position reflects our sincere feelings of friendship, solidarity and deep respect to your nation. We will continue providing all the necessary assistance to Havana,” concluded Ivan Melnikov.
Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla expressed gratitude to members of the State Duma for their consistent support to the Republic of Cuba and conveyed warm words of greetings from their colleagues from the National Assembly of People’s Power and state leadership. “We are connected by the historical friendly ties,” he said.
“The Russian Federation and Cuba develop the special, strategic relationship of fraternity, mutual support and similar approaches to the major issues on the international agenda,” stressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba.
The Chairman of the Committee on Defence Andrey Kartapolov
Andrey Valerievich
and the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy Maxim Topilin
Maxim Anatolievich
also attended the meeting.
