23 Jun 2015

The Acting President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has assured the Cuban government of Botswana’s support during its process of establishing diplomatic relations with the United States of America.

During a courtesy call that the Cuban deputy foreign minister, Mr Rogelio Sierra Diaz paid on him yesterday (June 22) at the Office of President, Mr Masisi said Cuba had been a principled friend not only to Botswana, but the Southern African region and the continent at large as it liberated the whole region during hard times.

He said Cuba had always offered support to Botswana despite being a small, poor, weak and vulnerable state.

With regards to relations of US and Cuba, he said it was essential for world peace that the two countries co-exist and respect their territorial integrities and independence Mr Masisi said Botswana has benefitted enormously from its relations with Cuba in the fields of education, sports, health and scholarships in the medical field.

“We are more than happy to this relationship of 38 years of diplomatic relations and 30 years of uninterrupted medical cooperation with Botswana,” he said.

For his part, Mr Diaz said the process of establishing relations with the USA was a positive step, but noted that this was not enough because in order to achieve normal relations between the two countries, it was necessary to lift the blockade on Cuba. Ends