Havana, Cuba.- The president of Cuba”s National Assembly of People”s Power, Esteban Lazo, and former Mali President Alpha Oumar Konare, highlighted in Havana Wednesday the historic friendship between Cuban and African nations.

In a meeting held at the Capitol, the parliament’s headquarters, Lazo recalled the decisive participation of Africans in the struggles for the Cuba´s independence, and evoked Cuba’s solidarity with African countries to put an end to apartheid.

Referring to the ties with Mali, he thanked that nation for supporting Cuba in its fight against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States for almost six decades; and for fostering support for Cuba in Africa.

In this regard, he remarked the fidelity of that continent to the Cuban Government and to the historical leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.

For his part, the former president of the African Union Commission expressed his solidarity with Cuba after the recent devastating tornado caused four deaths, nearly 200 injuries and severe material damage in several Havana municipalities. Konare, who is in Havana on the occasion of the 4th International Conference for the World’ s Balance, expressed the importance of remaining attentive to the United States’ attempts to divide the ties between Cuba and Africa.

In addressing current international issues, both agreed on the need to preserve unity among their nations as a resource to boost development and prevent separatist strategies. They also condemned the meddling actions of the U.S. administration in sovereign states, specifically in Latin America.

In that sense, they expressed their unconditional support for Venezuela and its president, Nicolas Maduro, in the face of the right-wing coup attempts.

In recent days, the first Cuba Vice President, Salvador Valdes Mesa, and Alpha Oumar Konare, exchanged views on the solidity of the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations, as well as on international issues.

Cuba and Mali maintain close collaboration in areas such as education, sports, agriculture and tourism