Havana— On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 31, Cuban Minister of Foreign Relations, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, received U.S. Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx at the Ministry headquarters; with whom he discussed issues of bilateral interest. The Cuban Minister described the resumption of regular commercial flights between the two countries as a positive step but of limited impact since U.S. citizens continue to be prohibited from traveling to the island as tourists, and the economic, commercial and financial blockade remains in place.
Later, Foxx met with his Cuban counterpart, Transport Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodríguez. During the encounter the two officials discussed issues relating to transportation, and opportunities to expand cooperation efforts in the sphere, above all in the field of aviation.
Secretary Foxx was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Scott Hamilton, as well as other representatives from the U.S. Departments of Transportation and State. Participating on the Cuban side were Ministry of Foreign Relations Director General for the United States, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro; President of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute, Alfredo Cordero Puig as well as other officials from the Foreign Relations and Transport ministries.
Foxx arrived to Cuba on the inaugural flight - by U.S. airline JetBlue - from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Santa Clara, Villa Clara, marking the resumption of regular commercial flights between the two countries.
The senior U.S. official had previously visited Havana on February 16, 2016, to attend the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the reestablishment of regular commercial flights between Cuba and the U.S.
(Cubaminrex)
