On 11
January 2023, H.E. Mr Andre Damato presented his Letters of Credence as
non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to H.E. Mr Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic of
Cuba. The credentials ceremony took place at the Palacio de la Revolucíon in
Havana, the Cuban capital, and in the presence of H.E. Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez
Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba.
After the ceremony, a brief yet engaging
meeting was held between H.E. President Díaz-Canel and
H.E. Ambassador Damato, recalling the excellent diplomatic relations between
Malta and Cuba. In this spirit, H.E. President Díaz-Canel assured the Cuban
Government’s support for H.E. Mr Damato in his role as Malta’s Ambassador to
Cuba. H.E. President Díaz-Canel also expressed his Government’s satisfaction for
the May 2022 signature of the Malta-Cuba MoU in the Field of Medical Science
and Health Care, and voiced his enthusiasm on expanding cooperation between
Malta and Cuba in other areas of shared interest. H.E.
Ambassador Damato conveyed Malta’s appreciation towards Cuba by showing
Valletta’s readiness to expand work with Havana in areas of mutual interest.
The Presentation of Letters of Credence of
H.E. Mr Andre Damato was preceded by his Presentation of the Copies d’Usage
to H.E. Mr Elio E. Rodríguez Perdomo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Cuba, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba
(MINREX) on 10 January. During the subsequent meeting, both sides recalled the
close historical and diplomatic ties among Malta and Cuba, further cooperation
prospects towards strengthening Maltese-Cuban ties, and Malta’s support to EU-Cuba
relations.
The Presentation of Letters of Credence and Copies
d’Usage of H.E. Andre Damato as Malta’s Ambassador of Malta to Cuba were
complemented with various meetings involving the Maltese delegation in Havana,
and Cuban government ministries as well as private stakeholders. With the
overall aim of enhancing Maltese-Cuban cooperation in wide-ranging fields, from
healthcare to tourism and trade to civil society, meetings were held between
the Maltese delegation and representatives from entities such as the Ministries
of Public Health (MINSAP), Tourism (MINTUR), and Trade and Investment (MINCEX).
During the Maltese delegation’s visit to Havana,
H.E. Ambassador Mr Andre Damato was accompanied by Mr Samuel Bezzina, Second
Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade.
The following YouTube link provides the main
highlights of the Presentation of Letters of Credence of H.E. Mr Andre Damato
as Maltese Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba: YouTube