Athens, October 14, 2021, the Parliamentary Group of Friendship with Cuba in the Hellenic Parliament, received, at headquarters of the Parliament, the ambassador of Cuba in Greece Zelmys Maria Dominguez Cortina and the counselor José Oriol Marrero Martinez. On the Greek side, Dionysis Aktypis, President (New Democracy Party); Yannis Giokas - Secretary (Communist Party of Greece / KKE), and the members: Maria Apatzidi (MeRA25 Party); and from the Syriza party the members Eirini - Eleni Dimitriou Agathopoulou; Eirini (Nina) Kasimati; Giorgos Katrougkalos and Nikolaos Syrmalenios, as well as members of the parliament's foreign relations department.
The fundamental milestones of the relations between the two countries were pointed out, issues of common interest were discussed to develop relations between the friendship groups with Cuba in the Hellenic Parliament and with Greece in the National Assembly of People's Power (Cuban parliament), the possibilities of cooperation in various spheres, holding a teleconference and a visit by a delegation from the Hellenic Parliament to Cuba when conditions permit.
The ambassador delivered documentation of interest about Cuba and explained about the current situation in Cuba, the strengthening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba, thanked Greece for the positive vote of the Cuban resolution condemning it in the General Assembly of United Nations and that this year it was expected again to have the positive Greek vote on this issue. She explained Cuba's achievements in facing the COVID 19 pandemic, the advances in the Cuban biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries that have made it possible to develop their own vaccines and immunize Cuban population, among other topics of interest.
The president and the members of the group in their speeches agreed to condemn the unjust US blockade against Cuba, as a fundamental obstacle to the country's development, they reiterated Greece's vote in favor of the Cuban resolution that condemns it. They also congratulated the Cuban people and government for their achievements in the face of the pandemic and the development of the biotechnology industry. They reiterated the group's support for the Greek initiative to request the Nobel Peace Prize for the Cuban medical brigades for their solidarity work. Some members of the group also condemned the media manipulation and the attempts to intervene and destabilize Cuba, organized and financed from the US, in the summer, and also condemned the signing by Greece of a joint resolution with the US and other countries against Cuba. They also denounced that some funds that were tried to donate by Greek friends to Cuba to face the pandemic were rejected by Greek banks, on which the ambassador also elaborated.
For his part, the counselor, at the request of the ambassador, explained the book of his authorship on Martí and the Greek, which will be published by the prestigious Greek publishing house Topos in October, in greeting to the 200th anniversary of the independence of Greece and as way of reinforcing the existing historical and cultural ties between Cuba and Greece. It was agreed that the presentation of the book and the exhibition of the author's photos that are in the book would also be organized at the Parliament headquarters in the near future.
It was an interesting meeting where the friendship and common values between the Greek and Cuban peoples were reaffirmed.
Embacuba Greece
