Mexican President Arrives in Cuba Today

HAVANA TIMES, April 11 — The president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, begins an official 24-hour visit to Cuba today aimed at deepening dialogue on trade and investment between the two countries, according to a statement issued by the Mexican Senate.

Calderon will continue ongoing talks on political issues and immigration, as well as matters relating to the exploitation of shared oil resources.

The head of state is expected to express the interest of the Mexican state-run oil company in participating in oil exploration projects, according to Mexican sources.

Another issue is Cuba’s pending 410 million dollar debt with Mexico dating back to the 1990s, and which the island has been unable to pay on despite a restructuring that took place in 2008, reported dpa news.

The Mexican president is not scheduled to meet with opposition figures on the island, despite US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen having told the Mexican newspaper El Siglo del Torreon that she had already met with the Mexican ambassador in Washington regarding those concerns.

Calderon’s trip will include Haiti on Thursday and then culminate in the Colombian city of Cartagena, where on April 14 and 15 he will participate in the Sixth Summit of the Americas.