In a gesture of gratitude, Ambassador Silvano Pedrollo received distinguished officials from the Diplomatic Ceremonial of the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba for a special lunch to thank them for the assistance provided during the protocol events.

Accompanying Amb. Pedrollo at this lunch were H.E. Ambassador Hugo Ramos Milanes, Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Jorge Luis Alfonso Ramos, Deputy Director of the Europe and Canada Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Alexander Quintana Canete, Diplomatic Ceremonial of the Presidency of the Republic of Cuba; Dr. Roberto Estaban Morales, Director General of Protocol; Dr. Silvia Colunga Martinez, Director General of Europe and Canada (which includes the Sovereign Military Order of Malta). Also present were Mrs. Olimpia Pizzolo, wife of Ambassador Pedrollo, and Salvador Miguel Porcaro, Second Counselor of the Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Cuba.

Ambassador Pedrollo, upon returning from the Presidential Palace, personally greeted the guests at the restaurant entrance. During lunch, Dr. Ramos highlighted the difficult situation in Cuba, addressing topics such as the impact of the embargo and the COVID-19 pandemic on the Cuban economy.

Ambassador Pedrollo expressed his concern about the situation of the elderly and the youth in Cuba, mentioning the support of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Caritas Cuba to the “Comedores” (dining rooms). They also discussed the need for concrete and pragmatic assistance to address the social emergency.

The delicate issue of medicines was addressed, and a commitment was made to facilitate the arrival of containers with food and supplies to Cuba, recognizing the need for the government to facilitate their entry and distribution.

At the end of the lunch, the Ambassador Pedrollo thanked those present for educating him about the challenges facing Cuba and for coordinating the logistics of presenting his Credentials to the President of the Republic of Cuba.