Serbians and Cubans "share passion for freedom"

Serbians and Cubans "share passion for freedom"

Citizens of Serbia love the Cuban people, Nikolic remarked, and added that all Cuban ambassadors who had been posted in Belgrade could testify to that.

The friendship between the two peoples is not based only on economic cooperation, he added.

"It is important that the basis of bilateral relations is sincere friendship, and that is a strong basis for economic cooperation," stressed the president.

Nikolic's press service said in a statement that he "expressed his satisfaction over the opening of dialogue between Cuba and the United States and the hope that the talks will continue in the interest of both countries."

The Serbian president thanked Cuba for "the principled support to the non-recognition of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo."

Esteban Lazo Hernandez said he was pleased that the top level official visit came after 36 years.

"Your visit is even more significant because of the key moment for Cuba. This is confirmed by historical ties of the two peoples, friendship and understanding," stressed the Cuban official.

He added that "the continuity of bilateral relations was not affected at any time."

Hernandez also emphasized the contribution of the Serbian people to fighting against fascism, "which we remember with pride on the anniversary of 70 years of victory over fascism."

On Tuesday, the first day of his visit, Nikolic laid a wreath at the monument to Cuban national hero Jose Marti.

Nikolic also signed the guestbook, and wrote:

"As fate would have it I am here today, on the 120th anniversary of the tragic death of Jose Marti. To pay tribute to Jose Marti means to pay tribute to Cuba, Latin America, freedom and democracy. To respect Joss Marti means respecting oneself and one's own freedom. Be proud that you had him, he would be proud of Cubans today."

Also on Tuesday, Cuban President Raul Castro presented Nikolic with the Order of Jose Marti, Cuba's top state honor.

Territorial integrity

Cuba will continue to support Serbia in its efforts to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty, Cuban President Raul Castro said on Wednesday during a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic.

The Cuban president thanked his Serbian colleague for the visit and support in re-establishing a dialogue with the US.

Serbia is a country that can serve as an example of how to fight for freedom and independence, which it has shown multiple times in its history. During World War Two, Serbia contributed immensely to the victory over fascism and sacrificed a lot in the battle against this evil, and its struggle for freedom and peace, unfortunately, has not ended, Castro stressed.

He underscored the importance of improving the relations between the two countries, especially in economy and investments.

This can particularly refer to the pharmaceutical industry, health care, agriculture, and transportation, he noted.

Legislation changes, which have already started, can facilitate that cooperation significantly, he pointed out.