MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. Russian senators are looking forward to meeting with Esteban Lazo Hernandez, the President of the National Assembly of People's Power, Cuba's parliament, Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko said on Tuesday.
"We are satisfied with the level of cooperation between our parliaments. I personally have good, friendly relations with Mr. Lazo, the President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People's Power, and we are looking forward to his visit in a week. We will have an opportunity to hold a parliamentary dialogue and discuss the development of our interparliamentary cooperation," the Federation Council chairperson said at a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel who is currently on an official visit to Russia.
Matviyenko expressed confidence that the Cuban leader’s visit would "give a new powerful impetus to multifaceted strategic cooperation between Russia and Cuba." "We know that Cuba continues to follow its difficult and heroic path based on Fidel’s ideas. Under your guidance, Mr. President, Cuba keeps developing, defending its interests with dignity and implementing reforms despite unprecedented external pressure. We are always happy to learn about your achievements," the Russian upper house chairperson noted.
According to her, the Cuban people’s will and desire for freedom, as well as their firm determination to defend their own path of development, is an inspiration to millions of people across the world, which is particularly evidenced by the UN General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution condemning the United States’ years-long illegal sanctions on Cuba. "Russia has always been and will continue supporting Cuba as its great friend and strategic partner. We very much appreciate and value the years-long ties of friendship between our countries and people," Matviyenko stressed.
Diaz-Canel, in turn, said at a plenary meeting of the Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) on Tuesday that the president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power would make a trip to Russia in the near future. "Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we have stepped up delegation exchanges. The State Duma chairman visited us in February this year. President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People's Power Esteban Lazo Hernandez will visit Moscow in the near future," the Cuban leader said. According to him, parliamentary ties between Cuba and Russia are crucial in terms of boosting economic, trade and financial relations and partnership.