Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra concluded a visit to the Dominican Republic on Sunday, after leading his country’s delegation to the 9th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

In statements to Prensa Latina after a fraternal encounter with the members of the Cuban State Mission on Saturday, Sierra described the FEALAC meeting as positive, and said that it allowed the member countries to express their willingness to continue to foster ties of cooperation and business among our nations.

‘The event took place just 48 hours after Cuba’s resounding victory at the United Nations, where a draft resolution for the total and definitive lifting of the United States economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba was approved by an overwhelming majority for the eighteenth consecutive year,’ he stated.

The meeting allowed me ‘to thank those present for their support for my country during all these years and for that particular vote,’ he said.

The Forum also exhibited Cuba’s cooperation for more than five decades and now with the countries of the region and internationally, which was recognized at the meeting, he stated.

The deputy foreign minister said that Cuba has raised its voice to regret Venezuela’s exclusion from the Forum, as Caracas was not invited, although that country ‘is a FEALAC founder and has worked exemplary in cooperating with the member nations, demonstrating huge generosity.’

Sierra pointed out that during his visit to the Dominican Republic, he met with local officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas, and they highlighted the country’s role as co-president of the Latin American bloc in the FEALAC’s work, and discussed bilateral issues.