Academics from the United States, participants in the XIV International Congress on Higher Education, expressed today their interest in closer collaboration with Cuban universities.
In a meeting held at the Palco Hotel in the capital, the professors praised the potential of the conclave for the establishment of alliances, while they expressed their interest in the consequences of the blockade imposed by the United States on the island in various fields.
Cuba is attending the meeting with a delegation of 59 people, including the participation of rectors and vice-rectors of U.S. universities.
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, explained to the visitors the effects of the unilateral policy and stressed that it limits the island of many of the cutting-edge technologies required in health, education and food production, among other sectors.
During the meeting, Fernandez de Cossio stressed that international relations serve to bring peoples closer, to establish ties, and this involves education and understanding.
The Vice Minister valued the large U.S. representation in Congress, "since we greatly favor the exchange between the two countries, that our peoples have the best possible opportunities to meet, exchange and if appropriate to cooperate in areas of great interest".
The State University of New York (SUNY) is one of the three foreign educational institutions with an exhibition stand at the Congress, held in the capital's Palacio de Convenciones.
SUNY is the largest network of higher education institutions in the United States and has a total of 64 universities.
The president of SUNY Cortland, Erik J. Bitterbaum, who also participated in the meeting, expressed to Prensa Latina his interest in establishing alliances and signing agreements within the framework of the Congress for the future studies and training programs of his students.
He pointed out that some of his students brought back very positive experiences from Cuba, after their participation in several forums on the island.
Bitterbaum indicated that the links between Cuba and the United States can be strengthened from the academic point of view, given that the Caribbean nation has a great potential in this sense. "We have all the personnel willing and with a high academic level and universities can really help build bridges between our two countries," he said.