Pelosi Statement on Historic Delegation’s Meetings in Havana

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Havana – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the first official delegation from the House of Representatives to visit Cuba after President Obama's announcement on the U.S.-Cuba relationship in December. After arriving in Havana, the delegation met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla; the Director of U.S. Affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Josefina Vidal; the Vice President of the National Assembly Ana Maria Mari Machado; and Members of the National Assembly.

"On our first day in Cuba, we were greeted by the Chief of Mission at the U.S. Interests Section, Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, and his team. We are proud of them and the U.S. Marines serving us there.

"Our first official bilateral meeting was with the Vice President of the National Assembly, Ana Maria Mari Machado, and Members of the National Assembly. During the meeting, we exchanged views about the actions taken by President Obama and President Raúl Castro. We agreed to continue our interparliamentary dialogue on areas of agreement and disagreement.

"This morning, we visited the Latin American School of Medicine where we met with school officials and with students from United States studying medicine in Cuba. We then proceeded to a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with the Minister Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, and the Director of U.S. Affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Josefina Vidal. We discussed areas of interest to the United States and Cuba, and our delegation listened to their concerns, including the embargo, bank and credit financing. We underscored our commitment to human rights in Cuba and agreed to build upon the historic opportunity before us to make progress in our relationship."

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