Brazil and Cuba get closer

Lula welcomes president of Cuban National Assembly

BRASILIA, July 2.— The president of Cuba’s National Assembly, Ricardo Alarcón, was received in this capital city by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

PL reports that also participating in the exchange were Foreign Minister Celso Amorim who had previously met with Alarcón privately and Marco Aurelio García, international policy advisor.

The relations between Cuba and Brazil are at an optimal stage and both parties are making an effort to further improve them, said Alarcón, also a member of the Political Bureau, as he left the meeting and spoke with the press accredited in the Palacio de Planalto.

He reported that he spoke with his hosts about various issues, among them the United States Fourth Fleet, the recently completed MERCOSUR Summit in Argentina and the condemnation of the anti-immigrant measures adopted by the European Union.

President La Silva expressed his satisfaction with the MERCOSUR meeting, given the environment of unity and cohesion he noted during the gathering and said he was optimistic about the possibilities for Latin American integration, according to Alarcón.

He emphasized, “Both sides, once again, congratulated each other for the agreements established between our countries, for all the progress we’ve made and how we’ve continued working.”

In reference to the Fourth Fleet, Alarcón said that Cuba knows quite a bit about U.S. ships moving close to its shores and reminded the press that the region is an extension of the U.S. Southern Command.

“Our position is that this decision must be categorically rejected. It implies hegemonic pretensions to use military force, or threaten its use, against any Latin American country,” he indicated.