Havana, Jun 28 (Prensa Latina) The president of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dennis Francis, on Friday underscored Cuba’s commitment and contribution to multilateralism, during official talks with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

The diplomat pointed out that Cuba’s representatives at international forums have always sought to bring balance, perspective and justice to the debates.

“Cuba’s voice is the voice of reason,” noted the diplomat, who also congratulated the Cuban Government for its work as leader of the G77+China group, which is made up of 134 countries.

Francis pointed out that Cuba did an excellent job in representing the interests of the largest group of countries at the United Nations.

The UNGA president expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and reiterated that his presence in Cuba is an opportunity to discuss the complicated problems and issues that humanity is facing.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, in turn, stressed that the UNGA is the most democratic body of the system of universal and equitable participation, based on the sovereign equality of States, where all are represented on an equal footing.

He noted that although the UNGA has no enforcement, coercive or military means, the political and ethical message of its deliberations has a real influence on the world and a power that should not be underestimated.

“We southern countries know that this is the place where we are best heard and where, when we act united and together, we can make the legitimate interests of humanity and of the peoples prevail,” the head of Cuban diplomacy noted.

Rodriguez also highlighted Francis’s work and agenda as UNGA prsident.

On Friday, Francis will give a master lecture at the Aula Magna of the University of Havana on “Cuba and Multilateralism: Opportunities and Challenges,” with the participation of government officials, diplomats, young people, women leaders and scholars.

Dennis Francis, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, assumed the Presidency of the 78th UN General Assembly in September 2023.

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Havana, June 27 (Prensa Latina) Cuba and Vietnam advocated strengthening their parliamentary relations in a virtual exchange between legislative leaders of both countries, the National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP) reported today.

The meeting, described as fruitful and fraternal, was led by the secretary of the ANPP, Homero Acosta, and Bui Van Cuong, secretary general and president of the Office of the National Assembly of the Asian country.

According to the source, in the contact Acosta expressed his satisfaction at holding this work meeting, which is part of the actions provided for in the Cooperation Protocol signed by both national assemblies.

Likewise, the secretary of the supreme organ of power of the Cuban State highlighted the close ties that unite this Caribbean nation and Vietnam, forged by the revolutionary leaders Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh, deepened the current Cuban situation, and thanked the permanent solidarity of Vietnam.

For his part, Bui Van Cuong recalled the cordial meetings held with his Cuban counterpart in Hanoi in November 2022 and in Havana in April 2023.

The Party, the State and the people of Vietnam always remember Fidel’s immortal phrase “For Vietnam we are willing to give even our own blood” -he said- and expressed the will to deepen the special traditional relationship of solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.

The parties agreed to increase interparliamentary cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including digital transformation, social communication, and science and innovation.

The ambassadors of both nations, and directors and officials of the two legislative bodies participated in the virtual meeting.

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Havana, Jun 27 (Prensa Latina) During the third round of political consultations, Cuba and Cambodia highlighted their historic relations of friendship and cooperation, the Cuban Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

At the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Anayansi Rodriguez and the secretary of State for the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry of Cambodia, Chum Sounry, praised the existing fluid high-level political talks.

They also agreed on the will to continue to consolidate bilateral cooperation, ratified by President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Hun Manet in September 2023.

The parties welcomed the boost to collaboration in the fields of agri-food, health, sport, education and culture, as a result of the consensus reached during the visit to Cuba of former Prime Minister Hun Sen and the visit to Cambodia of Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, which took place in 2022.

The source added that the Cuban deputy minister expressed her gratitude for the Philippines’ traditional stance against the blockade imposed by the US government on the Caribbean island, and for the inclusion of Cuba on the unilateral State

Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT).

Chum Sounry, in turn, highlighted the excellent ties between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Cuba, the first in this geographic area to join the regional Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in November 2020.

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Havana, Jun 27 (Prensa Latina) The Association of Cuban Bartenders (ACC) is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Thursday with two important international awards won by bartenders in Venice and Athens, its president, Eddie Naranjo, informed.

Naranjo told Prensa Latina that Ana Carla Hernandez, a bartender at the Habana Libre Tryp Hotel, was the international winner of the Lady Drink 2024 Cocktail, held in Venice, Italy.

Meanwhile, Kenia Borges, bartender of the Melia Internacional Hotel in Varadero, won the first edition of the International BarLady Cocktail Championship among competitors from 16 countries.

Naranjo explained that the ACC was the only Association of Latin American bartenders invited to participate in the BarLady competition and stated that winning this award would allow them to attract the second edition of this world competition to Cuba in 2025.

He added that one of the ACC’s objectives is to increase the training of all bartenders, raise their preparation and professionalism, and increase the knowledge the bartenders can offer from the bar to the customer.

The ACC president pointed out that the Association has 1,582 members distributed in 19 grassroots organizations nationwide, but still needs to grow.

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Havana, 26 Jun (Prensa Latina) Seismologists from six countries are participating in a scientific expedition in Caribbean waters, emphasizing the vicinity of the northern area of Santiago de Cuba, considered to have high seismic activity, it was reported.

The research will last until August with the participation of specialists from Cuba, France, Belgium, Germany, Haiti, and the United States, Granma newspaper published.

The oceanographic fleet “Pourquoi-Pas?” (Why not?), of French origin, set sail several days ago as part of the Haitian-Twist marine scientific research project.

The experts determine geophysical parameters and use equipment to obtain reliable records of possible faults, TV Santiago said.

The objective is intended to analyze the risks of the active system of the twin faults, located on the northern edge of the Caribbean tectonic plate, and the recovery of seismometers installed at the bottom of the ocean.

According to Dr. Bladimir Moreno, of the National Center for Seismological Research in Santiago de Cuba, the expedition aims to study the tectonic history and the structure of the crust, as well as the mantle in the area.

Likewise, characterize the behavior and movement of the tectonic fault and identify the thermal state and the role of fluids in the process of fault rupture.

During the 53-day trip, different geophysical measurements will be analyzed, including multichannel reflection seismic and open-angle seismic, with seismometers deposited on the seabed.

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