Fijiâs President, Konousi Konrote, today confirmed his governmentâs willingness to continue strengthening relations with Cuba, after expressing gratitude for the island''s cooperation in the health sector.
The head of State of the small Pacific island territory expressed his gratitude whilst receiving the Cuban ambassador's, Mario Alzugara, credentials, during a ceremony carried out at the government's headquarters in Suva, the capital of Fiji. Alzugara performs his duties to the island from New Zealand, where he is also ambassador.
According to an official statement, the President expressed his satisfaction for the mutual cooperation of both nations.
He also highlighted that Cuba will send, in coming days, two epidemiologists to assist the population in the areas hit, in February, by Cyclone Winston - the worst meteorological event in the history of the archipelago.
As part of his program in Fiji, the representative of the Cuban government met with the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Sports and Youth, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, as well as the most important regional organizations in Suva.
The statement adds that not only President Konrote, but also the Foreign Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, expressed satisfaction about the recent development of the relationship between Cuba and the United States, whose progress they describe as a recognition of the merit of the Caribbean country and its right to self-determination and national sovereignty.
Cuba and Fiji established diplomatic relations in July 2002, a period in which important collaboration with the countries of the region were developed.