Attending it were Yadira Garcia Vera, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Communist Party of Cuba and minister of Primary Industry, Gladys Maria Bejerano Portela, vice-president of the Council of State, and others and officials concerned and popular masses.

Present on invitation were Ambassador Kwon Sung Chol and staff members of the DPRK embassy in Havana and diplomatic envoys of different countries.

Ricardo Cabrisas, vice-president of the Council of Ministers, in his speech at the meeting extended the warmest salute to Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, on behalf of the Cuban government and people on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He recalled that Cuba and the DPRK have supported and cooperated with each other in the most difficult period.

The Cuban people are convinced that the army and people of the DPRK, closely rallied around their leader, would foil all moves of outside forces and achieve the peaceful reunification of the country by their own efforts, he noted, and continued:

It is the consistent stand of the party and government of Cuba to invariably support the Korean people's just cause of reunification. Cuba will as ever maintain its stand of attaching utmost importance to the friendly and cooperative relations with the DPRK.

The meeting was followed by a performance of Cuban artistes.