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Friday, March 21, 2008

Mexico, Cuba restore normal relations

Mexico, Cuba restore normal relations
Posted on Fri, Mar. 14, 2008
The Associated Press

HAVANA --
Cuba and Mexico declared their once-chilly relations fully restored on
Thursday, and Cuba's foreign minister said he will soon deliver a formal
invitation for Mexico's president to visit the island.

"Relations between Mexico and Cuba are fully normalized," Cuban Foreign
Minster Perez Roque said after meeting with his Mexican counterpart,
Patricia Espinosa.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has said he wants warmer ties with
Cuba - which historically have been good but soured under his
predecessor, Vicente Fox, who feuded publicly with Fidel Castro.

Under Fox, Mexico also backed a 2002 U.N. Human Rights Commission
resolution condemning Cuba. The two nations temporarily withdrew their
ambassadors in May 2004.

Fox left office in December 2006, and Fidel Castro stepped down last
month after nearly 50 years as Cuba's No. 1 official.

Perez Roque said he will visit Mexico in September with an invitation
for Calderon from new Cuban President Raul Castro.

Several top foreign dignitaries have visited Cuba since Raul Castro
assumed the presidency last month, replacing his ailing 81-year-old
brother Fidel. Most of the visits, including Espinosa's, were planned
before the leadership change.

Perez Roque and Espinosa on Thursday signed a series of agreements to
reactivate cooperation.

The pair applauded Mexico's agreement last month to restructure US$400
million (euro273 million) in Cuban debt in an effort to boost trade
between their countries.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/456183.html

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