Havana, Nov 7 (Prensa Latina) The first stone was laid today of a Qatar Embassy to be built in Havana, an expression of growing relations between Cuba and that Arab country.

   The symbolic act was accomplished by Sheik Yousef Hussein Kamal, minister of Finances and acting of Economy and Commerce and by Cuban Minister for Foreign Investment and the economic Collaboration, Marta Lomas.

   Hussein Kamal noted that the diplomatic headquarters and ambassador's residence would be built according to the norms of the Arab architecture as a way to ratify the solid bilateral relations.

   In a previous meeting with the Cuban Foreign Relations Minister Felipe Perez Roque, the Qatar Minister expressed his commitment to contribute with the strengthening of both states’ relations.

   For her part, Lomas highlighted the multifaceted character of the existing ties joining not only both peoples but also president Fidel Castro and Sheik Hamad Bin Califa Al-Thani.

 Prensa Latina 08-11-2006