Cuban support appreciated
Cuba’s decisive support for Sri Lanka at the recent special session
of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva was highly appreciated by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he met Cuban leader President Raul
Castro at Sharm El Sheik on Thursday.
The two national leaders met on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned
Summit, which concluded in Egypt yesterday.
President Raul Castro |
President Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka was grateful for the strong
support extended by Cuba at the HRC, which enabled the Sri Lankan
resolution to be debated and voted on, obtaining a clear majority of
support for the Sri Lankan position on the need to defeat terrorism and
to safeguard the principles of national sovereignty, in the face of
considerable pressure by countries that had possibly been misled by LTTE
propaganda.
The Cuban leader expressed solidarity with Sri Lanka in the battle it
waged against terrorism and congratulated the Sri Lankan leader for the
successful defeat of terrorism in the country.
He said Cuba’s support for Sri Lanka was in keeping with the
principles of the Non Aligned Movement and the importance that Cuba
attached to the principles of national sovereignty.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa also thanked Cuba for supplying the
necessary knowledge and expertise for Sri Lanka’s current campaign to
eradicate dengue from the country, with particular attention to
controlling the breeding of the dengue bearing mosquito.
The two leaders agreed on the need on the need keep alive the
historic friendship between Sri Lanka and Cuba, further strengthen
relations between the two countries, and the continued promotion of the
principles of the Non Aligned Movement, which had increased relevance
today in the context of current world crises.
Agreement was also reached on the need for exchange of scientific and
technological know- how between the two countries. |