“There was a time when Cuban generals
were trained in Belarus,” the ambassador noted.

Belarus, Cuba have prospects
for cooperation
in oil refining,
military-technical industry,
ambassador says

Belarus and Cuba have prospects for cooperation in the oil refining industry, Cuban Ambassador Omar Medina Quintero told reporters in Minsk on October 26, Belapan reports.

According to him, in December, Cuba puts into operation a large oil refinery with a daily capacity of 95,000 barrels. The refinery had been 70 percent completed before the breakup of the Soviet Union, and will now be operated in cooperation with Venezuela. It will be the first in a series of plants relating to oil refining, including plants manufacturing chemical fertilizers and plastics.

Mr. Quintero noted that the two countries also have good prospects for cooperation in power generation, medicine, transport, agriculture and tourism. He said that Cuba had proposed to major pharmaceutical companies in Belarus that they begin making hepatitis B vaccine. The introduction of technology to make this vaccine cost the Cuban medical center about $20 million and Belarusian companies were offered this technology for $3-4 million, but they rejected the offer, explaining that the expenses would not pay off, the ambassador said, adding that the offer was still on the table. He said that there is always an opportunity for cooperation in the medical sphere and invited Belarusian doctors to visit Cuba to familiarize themselves with the Cuban medical achievements.

According to the Cuban embassy, trade between the two countries may amount to $30 million in 2007. Mr. Quintero said that Cuba imports Belarusian tractors and trucks and cooperates with Belarusian companies Gefest, Motavela and others. Belarus buys Cuban sugar, tobacco and rum. Mr. Quintero said that the Cubans would always view Belarus as a reliable partner.

According to Ambassador, agreements on military technical cooperation were reached during last year’s Cuba visit of a Belarusian delegation led by Defense Minister Leanid Maltsaw. These agreements are currently implemented, Mr. Quintero said, adding that ties between the two countries in this sphere had existed for a long time. “There was a time when Cuban generals were trained in Belarus,” the ambassador noted. He expressed a high opinion of Belarusian-made military equipment.

General Maltsaw visited Cuba in July 2006 at the invitation of acting Cuban President Raul Castro.