Transcript, E&OE
23 November, 2009
Remarks at the Australian Reception in Havana hosted by Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr Smith: To my friend and colleague, Foreign Minister Rodriguez, to the two Vice- Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, to Doctor Castro, the Scientific Advisor, Ambassadors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Firstly, can I say how pleased I am to be in Cuba. It is my first visit to Havana as Foreign Minister and it is the first visit by an Australian Foreign Minister to Cuba in 15 years. Fortunately, my visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Cuba.
My visit to Cuba and Havana today, my meetings with the Foreign Minister and with the First Vice-President, my visit to the Ophthalmology Centre and the Genetic Engineering Institute, have all marked a fresh start to Australia and Cuba's relationship.
When the Australian Government came to office nearly two years ago, we wanted to enhance our engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean. Not just through individual countries like Cuba, but also through the relevant regional organisations, the Rio Group and CARICOM.
In the margins of the General Assembly in New York in September, not only did I meet with Foreign Minister Rodriguez, but for the first time an Australian Foreign Minister met formally with the Rio Group.
Tomorrow I go to Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago for the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers' meeting. On Thursday, again for the first time for an Australian Foreign Minister, I will meet formally with the CARICOM Foreign Ministers, some 12 of whom are also members of the Commonwealth.
All of that reflects Australia's desire to engage much more with Latin America and the Caribbean.
Importantly, the Foreign Minister and I today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set the framework for discussions between Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Cuba's Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Like all good Foreign Ministers, we have set our officials some very important work to do under that MOU.
We looked at the areas where there is potential for further and better collaboration and work between Australia and Cuba: in science and technology - which follows on from the Scientific Advisor's visit to Australia - on trade and investment; on cultural exchanges following on from the very successful Australian film festival in Cuba recently; sporting links; and, importantly, scientific endeavours, some of which I saw this afternoon, looking at the potential for Cuba and Australia to work in partnership, delivering medical assistance as partners in the Pacific, and potentially partners in the Caribbean.
Foreign Minister Rodriguez and I spoke today about our collaboration in the regional groups that I have referred to, the Rio Group and CARICOM, and also the close work that Australia and Cuba now do together in the United Nations. In the last two years, in the most recent period, we have worked very closely together in the United Nations.
So Minister, can I say firstly how much I have enjoyed my time here. Walking through the Old City last night, one very quickly gets the impression of the warmth and the friendly nature of the Cuban people, the strong attachment to cultural matters, the strong attachment to history, the strong attachment to life and the vibrancy of Cuban affairs.
Not only have you today extended to me great hospitality and great warmth, but our discussions have been productive. All that augurs very well for the future relationship between Cuba and Australia.
So Minister, to you and your colleagues, to assembled members of the Diplomatic corps, can I thank you for the warmth you have extended, to not just our Ambassador but to the Australian delegation. I thank you for the friendship you have shown.
I also thank you for the productive conversations we had today, which hopefully will see Australia and Cuba doing good work in the Pacific, in the Caribbean, and in the international organisations, particularly in the United Nations.
Thank you very much for attending, and please enjoy your time at our reception this evening. Thank you.
ENDS
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