Panama And Cuba Re-Establish Diplomatic Ties

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

26 August 2005

Panama and Cuba have reestablished diplomatic ties, ending a year-long dispute which began when Panama decided to pardon four Cubans convicted in a plot to assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Havana decided to cut relations with Panama on August 26 2004 when the then-president Mireya Moscoso pardoned four Cubans convicted of plotting to assassinate Castro in 2000.

However, relations were re-established last weekend in an exchange of diplomatic letters between Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Ricardo Duran, Panama's deputy foreign minister, presided over by Presidents Fidel Castro and current Panamanian president Martin Torrijos.

According to the document, the decision was based on the long-standing friendship between both nations, the desire to promote cooperation and friendly relations and respect for each country's political system.

The ceremony was also attended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, as well as other top Caribbean government officials present for the first graduation of the Latin American School of Medicine on Saturday evening.

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