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Cuba, Panama Restore Full Diplomatic Relations
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=EAE5C8:3919ACA

Cuban FM Felipe Perez Roque, his Panamanian counterpart, Ricardo Duran
sign documents to officially declare normal relations





>From top left, presidents from Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Martin Torrijos
of Panama and Fidel Castro of Cuba, smile as chancellors Ricardo
Duran, seated left, of Panama, and Felipe Prez from Cuba signs the
re-establishment of diplomatic relations Cuba and Panama have restored
diplomatic ties, one year after they were severed due to Panama's
decision to pardon four Cubans accused of trying to assassinate Cuban
President Fidel Castro.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and his Panamanian
counterpart, Ricardo Duran, Saturday signed documents in Havana to
officially declare normal relations.

Havana cut off relations with Panama on August 26, 2004, after
then-President Mireya Moscoso pardoned the Cuban exiles. Her
successor, Martin Torrijos, had vowed to re-establish ties after his
inauguration last year.

Mr. Torrijos arrived Saturday in Cuba, where he attended a graduation
ceremony at the Latin American School of Medicine along with Mr.
Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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