Addis Ababa, March 5, 2021 (FBC) – Cuban Ambassador to Ethiopia, Vilma Thomas said her country is keen to further deepen partnership with Ethiopian in multifaceted areas of cooperation.
In connection with the 43rd anniversary of the Victory of Karamara which is being celebrated in Addis Ababa, Ambassador Vilma Thomas said 163 Cuban soldiers lost their lives while fighting alongside Ethiopia against the invading forces of Somalia from 1977-78.
She said there were 43,000 Cubans in Ethiopia in different times from 1977 –1989 engaging in several fields including military, education, health ad other areas.
The longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and Cuba whose commencement traces back to mid 1970s has been continuing in a better tack, the ambassador underlined.
Ambassador Vilma Thomas stated that Ethiopia and Cuba have signed new agreements in the area of health recently.
“We have been cooperating in science and technology. We are in the process of opening up new area of cooperation in the biotechnology and vaccine production areas. Cuban is interested to share its experiences to Ethiopia in these fields.”, the ambassador added.
Ethiopia and Cuba are working in field of TVET, she said, adding the countries have also signed a cooperation agreement in sports field where Ethiopia will share its best experiences to Cuba in athletics.
“We are also cooperating in multilateral areas under UN framework.”, she noted.
She further extended gratitude to the government of Ethiopia on behalf of her country for showing its solidarity to Cuba demanding an end to the financial embargo United States imposed on it.
The ambassador further reiterated commitment to play her part in further cementing the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.