Panama VP Visits Cuba
Panamanian Vice President Samuel Lewis Navarro is visiting Cuba Friday to discuss cooperation, a proposed Latin American Summit in Panama and that of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Havana next September.

Lewis, who is also Panama´s Foreign Minister, told Prensa Latina that relations with Cuba are growing in importance and with his two-day visit he wants to take them to a higher level.

Bilateral relations have recovered, the high ranking official said, after they fell to a critical point with the prior Panamanian administration.

Relations fell to their lowest level after former president Mireya Moscoso let four Cuban-born terrorists, among them criminal Luis Posada Carriles, free when they were serving a four year sentence for attempting to kill President Fidel Castro in November 2000.

The countries have retaken the path of friendly ties, friendship and mutual collaboration, Vice President Lewis stressed.

He highlighted agreements signed in the fields of science, education, sports, cultural and trade. Panamanians are also interested in learning about the energy revolution in Cuba and expect to increase trade.

The vice president said Cuba will be one of the guest nations at the Presidential Summit of the Americans, slated for late June in Panama City.

 Lewis conveyed his country´s willingness to support and attend the NAM Summit to be held in September in Havana.