HAVANA. Nov 18 (Interfax) - Havana is determined to broaden relations with Moscow and is thankful to the Russian leadership for its assistance to Cuba, Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko said.
"We are leaving with an absolute understanding of the Cuban leadership's determination to develop and expand cooperation with our country," Matviyenko told journalists in Havana following a visit to Cuba.
Matviyenko said she had lengthy and very substantive negotiations with all of Cuban political leaders.
"I met with the president of Cuba [Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez], with the deputy prime minister and co-chairman of the Russian-Cuban intergovernmental commission [Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz], and the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Comandante Raul Castro. We've heard so many words of gratitude addressed to Russia and our president for unwavering solidarity, support and assistance provided to Cuba," she said.