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• 01 / 05 / 2009

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"Visiting Cuba is always a privilege, particularly in such a significant occasion for the Cuban people and for Latin America," said the Panamanian President upon his arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport . Torrijos added that he belongs to a generation of Panamanians who grew up admiring the achievements of the Cuban Revolution.

Panama and Cuba have shared mutual solidarity in difficult circumstances, said the head of state, who will meet with Cuban President Raul Castro and will also unveil a monument raised in honor of General Omar Torrijos, among other activities on his agenda.

He said that every time he has visited Cuba , he has seen the opening of new ways for mutual understanding, development and the increase of bilateral exchange in the social and economic fields.

"Many of our achievements in Panama are the result of our sharing of experience with the Cuban people and we are very thankful for that," said Torijos.

Cuba and Panama maintain excellent bilateral cooperation relations, particularly in the fields of health, education and sports. Medical cooperation between both countries began in July 2005 with the implementation of the Miracle Operation free-surgery program, under which over 32, 400 Panamanians underwent surgery in Cuba and at Panama´s Omar Torrijos Eye Hospital.

(RHC)