Cuba and the U.S. Sign Memorandum on Agriculture

Cuba and the U.S. Sign Memorandum on Agriculture
Fecha de publicación: 
22 March 2016
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The text is aimed at promoting cooperation in agricultural trade, productivity, food security, and sustainable management of natural resources, as well as protection against the introduction and spread of pests, diseases of plants, animals and the environment.
Rollero said during the meeting that the agreement demonstrates the interest of both governments to work on the process of normalization of relations.

He recalled that their bases date back to the visit to Cuba of Vilsack in November, 2015, and since then some areas of cooperation have been identified, although "for our part we have the capacity to sign agreements on plant and animal health," he pointed out.

He added that his interlocutor knows the work of Cuban farmers and cooperative members to make land produce in difficult conditions due to the limitations imposed by the economic, financial and commercial blockade of the U.S. against the island, and its impact on the lack of consumables and more modern technologies.

Vilsack agreed with his host that the blockade is a barrier to full mutual links, and the presence of the U.S. head of state in Havana is a reflection that it should be eliminated in Congress through the political pressure needed, he said.

Meanwhile, he added, we will continue to promote cooperation and I have asked my working group to work with the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture to create a work schedule that makes the achievement of the objectives of the current memorandum possible.

Specialists of the organization told ACN that the latter is the first of its kind approved by representatives of the two countries since the establishment of the U.S. siege on Cuba over half a century ago, considered the longest in history.

However, it is the second memorandum agreed in less than 72 hours, after the signing of one related to cooperation in the areas of hydrography and geodesy to improve the safety of maritime navigation.

Candido Alfredo Gomez, head of the National Office of Hydrography and Geodesy, and Jeffrey De Laurentis, charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy to Havana, signed the aforementioned document in a ceremony held at Havana's Palco Hotel.

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