(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil signed a historic diplomatic agreement with Cuba, marking the first official visit by a Lebanese foreign minister to Havana since 1970.
Bassil and Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla signed the collaboration on Friday, according to Bassil’s media office.
Parrilla expressed solidarity with Lebanon and other Arab countries, citing his country’s stand against Israel.
“We express our support to the Lebanese and Arab causes, especially to the Palestinian cause,” Parilla said.
Bassil thanked Cuba for working with Lebanon and voiced opposition of international support to Israel.
“We will firmly as Lebanese stand for our rights against the oppression of Israel and we will defeat Israel who will never win a gain over us,” he said.
Parrilla hosted a private reception for Bassil attended by ambassadors to Cuba and influential members of the Cuban-Lebanese community.
The Lebanese population is Cuba is estimated to be more than 30,000.
Bassil congratulated Parrilla for reaching an agreement with the United States, which is normalizing relations between Cuba and the U.S.
The agreement between the two countries lifts some U.S. travel restrictions, fewer restrictions on remittances, U.S. banks access to the Cuban financial system, and the establishment of a U.S. embassy in Havana, which closed after Cuba became closely allied with the USSR in 1961.
Bassil says he hopes the Lebanese community in Cuba will help the bonding process between the U.S. and Cuba, especially in economic and cultural relations.
Bassil also met with Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz during the trip, and the two officials agreed on forming a diplomatic committee for securing a better relationship between Lebanon and Cuba.