WHEN: Thursday, April 22, 2004 – 12:00 Noon
WHERE: Vermont Statehouse, Cedar Creek Room
WHAT: Lt. Gov. Dubie will brief Vermont media on his recent peace and trade mission to the island nation of Cuba. Dubie arrived in Havana early on April 13 to meet with Cuban trade negotiators at a Cuban-US agricultural trade fair that lasted all week. He returned to Vermont with letters of intent for Cuban purchases of specific Vermont agricultural products.

While in Cuba, Dubie addressed the trade conference on two occasions and met with top trade and government officials, including National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon. He also met with Cuban Roman Catholic Cardinal Ortega, with James Cason, Chief of the US Mission in Cuba, and with former Cuban political prisoner Vladimiro Roca. He visited a Cuban dairy farm and toured a major Havana hospital with the hospital’s deputy director.

Cuban-American Essex High School Principal Armando Vilaseca, who accompanied Dubie on the trip, will also be present for the media briefing.

“It was an honor to represent Vermont in Cuba,” Dubie said upon his return. “By engaging in frank, forthright discussions with our hosts, I believe we built a strong foundation for future endeavors with our neighbors to the south. I look forward to pursuing our new relationships.”

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