Islamic Republic News
Agency. Feb. 22, 2001
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 21, IRNA-PL-Pool -- Malaysia will shortly become the
12th Asian state with an embassy in Havana, Malaysian Minister for Foreign
Affairs Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar ratified during conversations with
his Cuban counterpart Felipe Perez Roque.
The step will be an expression of "the importance that Malaysia
places on its relations with Cuba", said Chancellor Albar when
meeting Perez Roque yesterday, according to Prensa Latina.
The Cuban Foreign Affairs minister Monday began an official visit to
this nation, fulfilling an invitation of the Malaysian Minister. During
over one hour long talks, Albar repeated his feelings of "admiration,
solidarity and respect for the Cuban people" and ratified strong
Malaysian support for Cuba's fight against the U.S. blockade.
During the meeting in Chancellery headquarters Wisma Putra, "the
positive perception that both parties have regarding bilateral relations
was confirmed".
The delegations agreed on the necessity of making the most of the
current situation of economic recuperation in both countries "to
increasingly fasten trade and economic links".
Perez Roque thanked the country for the sympathy shown to the Cuban
people and government, and recalled that for nine consecutive years, Malaysia
has voted in favor of the resolution against the U.S. blockade presented by
Cuba to the UN General Assembly.
Albar and his guest highlighted "the level coincidence in
subjects such as South-South cooperation and the necessity to put into practice
agreements adopted during the South Summit" of Group 77 (G-77) plus
China, held in Havana in April, 2000.
Perez Roque and his Malaysian counterpart talked fully on matters of
bilateral, multilateral and regional interest. In his
first working day in Kuala Lumpur as part of a tour of various Asian
states, Perez Roque was also received by the Chamber of Representatives
president Jun Mohammed Zahir Bin Ismail, at parliament headquarters.
During the meeting, both leaders exchanged opinions on the
importance of the next meeting of the Interparliamentarian Union, to be held
in Cuba at the beginning of April.
Bin Ismail announced that Malaysia will be present at the event with an
important delegation.
PL/YS
::irna 09:55
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