Maduro in Cuba to Strengthen Alliance

HAVANA TIMES — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro traveled to Havana on Friday evening to be at the opening on Saturday of a joint commission that will ratify “the strategic alliance” between Cuba and Venezuela, reported dpa news.

The trip is Maduro’s first as president after being sworn a week earlier. Traveling with him are Oil and Mining Minister, Rafael Ramírez and Foreign Minister Elías Jaua.

On Saturday, “we are going to review all of the projects to strengthen health care, in sports, education and the joint economic projects,” said Maduro.

The Venezuelan president plans to return later Saturday to his country to carry out a program in Zulia on Sunday.

Maduro was welcomed at the Jose Martí Airport by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez.

The relationship with Cuba was an important issue in the recent Venezuelan election campaign.  Opposition leader Henrique Capriles promised to cut of the daily oil deliveries to Cuba on favorable terms while Maduro spoke of further strengthening the cooperation between the two countries.

An estimated 40,000 Cuban doctors, educators, sports trainers and other advisors and technicians are currently working in Venezuela.