Seychelles Foreign Minister Radegonde Holds Talks With Cuban President Diaz-Canel
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Enhancing cooperation between Seychelles and Cuba was among the topics discussed during the meeting between the Seychelles’ Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, and the Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. During the meeting, Minister Radegonde expressed deep appreciation of the government of Seychelles for the various support that the Cuban government has provided throughout the years in key fields such as health, education among others. He also noted that through the Cuban education system, a lot of Seychellois have progressed in their careers to occupy key positions in the government and the private sector. The meeting took place in Havana during the minister’s official visit to Cuba.
Minister Radegonde also commended President Miguel Díaz-Canel for his country’s resilience and strong will, when faced with international issues. Seychelles maintains its stance in recognising the need to end the commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America on Cuba, expressed Minister Radegonde. As a fellow small island developing state (Sids), Minister Radegonde expressed the need to collaborate on the international platforms in areas that will mutually benefit both countries, such as the multidimensional vulnerable index and other Sids-related matters.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the excellent bilateral relations between the two island nations, and noted that the visit of the Seychelles minister is a testament that the relationship between the two countries is solid. He expressed appreciation for the presence of the Seychelles President in the G77 and China Summit, which took place a couple of months ago in Havana, and described the President’s presence as a key factor in the relations. President Díaz-Canel also expressed his gratitude to Seychelles for supporting Cuba’s call to end the commercial and financial embargo imposed on it by the United States of America at the United Nations General Assembly.
During the meeting, the Cuban president cordially extended an invitation to the Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan to undertake an official visit to Cuba. The invitation is being treated in Victoria as a marker of the importance that Cuba attaches to the relationship, and as a useful opportunity to broaden the bilateral agenda. Minister Radegonde was accompanied at the meeting by Ian Madeleine, the non-resident Ambassador to Cuba and desk officer for Cuba, Louisa Lepathy. The composition of the delegation is a sign of the seriousness with which the visit is being treated.
The minister’s visit to Cuba forms part of a wider effort to refresh the country’s bilateral relationships with key partners in the Caribbean and Latin America, and to ensure that the cooperation frameworks in place are delivering tangible benefits. The visit is also being used as an opportunity to discuss cooperation on health, with the Cuban Medical Brigade continuing to play a significant role in the local health system. A fuller readout of the discussions between the minister and the Cuban president is expected to be released by the Department of Foreign Affairs in the coming days.
