Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation visits Cuba and Colombia

Spain and Cuba held consultations on 16 October in Havana as provided for in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018 on the occasion of the visit to Cuba by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.

These consultations were chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, and by the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Josep Borrell. The two delegations reviewed issues of common interest, including dialogue on human rights, and issued a Joint Declaration. Acting Minister Borrell also met with the Minister for Culture, Alpidio Alonso, to provide follow-up on cultural cooperation between the two countries, which is a very relevant element of bilateral relations.

During the joint press briefing, the two delegations highlighted that these consultations help contribute in strengthening bilateral relations, and Acting Minister Borrell confirmed the visit by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain to Cuba within the framework of the upcoming fifth centenary of the founding on Havana in November.

The audience granted by the President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, to Acting Minister Borrell served to reinforce the will of both Spain and Cuba to continue strengthening relations in this new period. He was also received by the Vice-President, Ricardo Cabrisas, to address economic and trade issues, including the consequences of the activation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act. This visit to Cuba was completed by a reception for Spanish business owners with interests in the country offered by the Spanish Ambassador, who conveyed to the acting minister the current difficulties and opportunities in this country, and with a meeting with Cuban civil society to see the concerns and possible formulas for collaboration.

From Havana, the acting minister travelled to Bogota. There he was received by the President of the Republic, Iván Duque, and the Vice-President, Marta Lucía Ramírez (a meeting that was also attended by the Acting Minister for Culture and Sport of Spain, José Guirao), and then met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carlos Holmes Trujillo. The meetings with the Colombian Government served to observe the good state of relations within the framework of the bilateral strategic association. On this point, it is noteworthy to highlight that, as a result of these meetings, the first foundations were laid to establish a cooperation format between the two countries for the galleon 'San José'.

The acting minister also met with representatives of the three institutions that make up the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and non-Repetition established in the Peace Agreements, at which he reiterated Spain's commitment to continue supporting efforts at peacebuilding by the Colombian Government and society. The acting minister's agenda in Bogota was completed with two meetings, one with representatives of leading Colombian figures and another with representatives of a number of Spanish companies operating in Colombia.

The acting minister's trip to Colombia concluded with a visit to the border city of Cúcuta - the point of arrival of the mass exodus of Venezuelan citizens caused by the crisis ravaging the country. The acting minister visited projects financed by Spanish Cooperation and gave a joint press briefing with his Colombian counterpart, at which the acting minister stressed the magnitude of this migration and stated the intention of the Government of Spain to announce, at the International Solidarity Conference on the Venezuelan Refugee and Migrant Crisis to be held on 28 and 29 October, that it would significantly strengthen resources in response to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and to support the countries in the region that are taking in Venezuelan refugees and migrants.

Non official translation