Pretoria, June 14, 2021.- Cuba and Lesotho celebrate today the 42 anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
Since the formalization of the ties in 1979, bilateral relations have been permanently strengthened. The bilateral cooperation agreements signed cover various spheres, including health, education, sports and academic training, and are implemented with positive results, on the basis of friendship, cooperation and solidarity.
Cuba's medical cooperation with the African kingdom will be two decades old next year. As a result of the implementation of the new cooperation agreements in health matters, signed by both countries in June 2019, the Island's medical brigade in that sister African nation was expanded with Cuban professionals with extensive experience, with a favorable impact on the improvement of the health indicators of the Basotho people.
Similarly, Cuban advisers are working in that country to materialize the opening of a Faculty of Sports and Physical Culture at the National University of Lesotho.
Cuba has also contributed and contributes, through the granting of free annual scholarships, to the training in its educational institutions of young Basothos in multiple spheres such as medicine, physical culture and sports, agronomy, veterinary medicine, mining, economics, accounting, hydraulic engineering, telecommunications, civil construction, and computing, among other specialties.
For the current academic year, 10 free study scholarships were awarded, including 5 medical scholarships. Thanks to the annual scholarships granted by Cuba, dozens of young people from that sister African nation have been able to graduate as doctors, which have a great social impact in the country.
On the occasion of the successful visit to Cuba by His Majesty King Letsie III, head of State of Lesotho, at the invitation of Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez, the governments of both countries emphasized their commitment to continue deepening and diversifying their ties, for the benefit of their respective peoples.
Just a few days before the vote in the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization of the resolution against the economic, commercial and financial blockade unilaterally imposed against Cuba by the United States government, which will take place on June 23, we reiterate, on behalf of the Cuban people and government, thanks to the Kingdom of Lesotho for the traditional position held in rejection of this illegal and criminal policy and its support for this important resolution, a position shared by all African countries.
Lesotho and Cuba have many reasons to celebrate these 42 years of fruitful diplomatic relations. The friendly and fraternal ties that unite our countries will continue to advance to higher levels, based on the solid common values that unite us in the search for peace, well-being and prosperity for our peoples and the rest of the peoples of the world.