Iranian Parliament Backs Expansion Of Iran-Cuba Ties

Tehran, July 24, IRNA – Head of Iran-Cuba parliamentary friendship group, Abdolreza Mesri said on Tuesday that the parliament supports expansion of all-out ties between Tehran and Havana. In a meeting with Cuban Chargé dAffaires in Tehran David Paulovich Escalona, Mesri stressed the role of parliaments in broadening ties between countries. He referred to abundant commonalities between the two countries and their close views on many regional and international issues as a base for expansion of bilateral relations. He called for cooperation between Iran and Cuba in international conferences and organizations such as Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the United Nations and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The Cuban diplomat said that the Havana government and parliament are interested in promoting relations with Iran, particularly in trade, economic and cultural areas. Iran-Cuba relations, which are characterized by economic and diplomatic cooperation, are quite friendly. Iran has a productive trade balance with Cuba. The two governments signed a document to bolster cooperation in Havana in January 2006. According to the document, Iran and Cuba expanded cooperation in several commercial, banking, agriculture, health and cultural fields. The two countries also stated they will expand cooperation in areas of sugar industry, fishery, biotechnology, sports, transportation, development projects, investment, tourism, information technology and communications and water resources. The document asks for Iran and Cuba to provide more facilities in banking cooperation with an aim of promoting economic and trade ties and making use of mutual scientific, research and industrial capabilities./end