Cuban VP receives official welcome |15 February 2018

Mercedes López Acea, the Vice-President of the State Council of the Republic of Cuba, and her delegation were officially welcomed to Seychelles yesterday afternoon.

Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, the secretary of state in the Department of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Barry Faure, Cuban ambassador to Seychelles Juan Humberto Macias Pino along with other key government officials and Cuban personnel based here were at the Seychelles International Airport to welcome VP Acea.

Harifh Andy, a primary six pupil from Cascade school, presented VP Acea with a bouquet of flowers as she stepped out of the plane.

Here on a three-day official visit, VP Acea is leading a delegation which comprises the Vice-Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Cuba, Ambassador Ana Teresita González Fraga; the director of the Sub-Saharan Africa Directorate at the Ministry of External Relations of the Republic of Cuba, Ambassador Sidenio Acosta Aday; and Madelayne Pedroso Delgado an interpreter.

Seychelles is the last leg of a tour of five countries she has been visiting to strengthen historical ties, friendship and solidarity.

Following a warm welcome at the airport, the Cuban VP was escorted to State House where she was received by President Danny Faure for a short tête-à-tête and courtesy meeting.

Government officials from both sides were also present for the meeting which ended with an exchange of gifts and VP Acea signing the visitors’ book.

Later yesterday evening VP Acea met a group of students who studied and graduated in Cuba in a short reception at the Savoy Resort & Spa.

VP Acea’s visit continues today with bilateral talks with her Seychellois counterpart VP Meriton at State House.

Speaking to the press, Ambassador Faure noted that the visit is in the context of the excellent relations that exist between Cuba and Seychelles and it coincides with the 40th anniversary in April of diplomatic ties between our two countries.

“The fact that Seychelles has been chosen for the last leg of VP Acea’s tour of five different countries highlights the importance Cuba attaches to the friendship and collaboration it has with Seychelles,” Ambassador Faure pointed out.

“Relations between the two countries are excellent and we share the same views on many international principles, our collaboration is at a very high level. Cuba plays a very important role in different sectors here namely in health where there are 51 doctors working with the Ministry of Health as part of the technical collaboration between our two countries,” Ambassador Faure added.

He went on to note that education is a sector where Seychellois cadres working in different areas have benefitted from training and expertise gained through studying in different universities and institutions in Cuba.

“The future of our relations is therefore excellent,” Ambassador Faure noted.

He pointed out that the visit of VP Acea is an opportunity to further strengthen relations, boost cooperation and collaboration in existing sectors as well as explore different possibilities for cooperation and collaboration in new sectors, find ways to increase exchange visits between the two countries among different other possibilities for cooperation.

The Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Seychelles established diplomatic relations on April 12, 1978.

President Faure and VP Acea exchanging gifts