Irish Foreign Minister in Route to Cuba

HAVANA TIMES, February 16.— Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin makes a historic trip to Cuba on Tuesday the first Irish government minister to travel to Cuba in an official capacity. Martin is in Mexico to meet with Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa before heading on to Havana.

Martin told the press that his trip will be an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues as well as how to develop bilateral relations. He will hold talks with his counterpart Felipe Perez Roque. It was not disclosed whether he would also meet with President Raul Castro.

“Cuba is undergoing a major transformation, and its relations with the EU have entered a new phase,” Martin told the press. “I wish to take advantage of this new context to discuss a wide range of political, economic and social issues, including human rights, all of which are included in the agendas for my meetings,” said the Irish foreign minister.

Martin is also scheduled to hold talks with Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation to discuss expanding trade ties.