Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic met with Cuban Vice-President of the Council of Ministers Ulises del Toro, at the initiative of the Cuban side, outside of the previously arranged programme of the visit, as a way in which del Toro wished to express his personal pleasure and the satisfaction of the Cuban leadership with the course, content and outcome of Minister Mrkic's talks in Havana.

Del Toro noted that political relations between the two countries were very good and commended future cooperation agreements in the fields of health, agriculture, construction industry and tourism.

Also, in his meeting with Mrkic, del Toro conveyed his cordial greetings to the government of Serbia and re-extended an invitation to President Nikolic to visit Cuba.

On his visit of several days to Cuba, Minister Mrkic had talks with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Foreign Trade Minister Rodrigo Malmierca.

Following the meeting with Rodriguez where possibilities had been discussed for intensifying the cooperation between the two countries, in particular economic cooperation, Mrkic assessed that the foundations of cooperation between Serbia and Cuba were very solid and that the two countries sought ways and means of strengthening these ties, especially in the economy, through the reforms implemented by them.

In his meeting with Malmierca, a specific programme of activity aimed at the development of economic cooperation between the two countries was agreed, including measures for their business and research cooperation in health and pharmaceutical industries, primarily in cancer prevention and treatment.

The Serbian Foreign Minister also conferred with the President of the Cuban Parliament Esteban Lazo on the enhancement of mutual cooperation where the economy would be in the forefront, and concrete steps were agreed towards that end.

On this occasion, Mrkic thanked the Cuban Parliament in particular and Cuba in general for their support to Serbia regarding the Serbian position on Kosovo and Metohija.

The Serbian Minister visited also the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Centre where he talked to the director of that institution Luis Herrera Martinez about possible cooperation, and announced the visit of the Serbian Health Minister to Cuba in a few months' time.

Ivan Mrkic with Ulises del Toro in Cuba