RICHMOND/CUBAN Sister City Agreement

RICHMOND WELCOMES CUBAN DELEGATES ON FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO CALIFORNIA Signing of Sister City Agreement Heralds New Era In People to People Diplomacy Diplomatic history will be made in Richmond, California with the arrival of the first official delegation from its Sister City Regla, Cuba for an eight-day, city-to-city visit. The public is invited to attend a formal reception and signing of the Sister City Agreement scheduled for Tuesday, December 11, 2001, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium Lobby, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. The delegation includes Mr. Francisco Hernandez Barcelo, the Mayor of Regla, and Dr. Raul Genaro Gil Sanchez who will be joined by Mr. Jose Luis Noa, an official from the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, D.C. Never before has an official delegation from a Cuban city visited a city in California or on the West Coast for official business. "This visit heralds a new era in people to people diplomacy," said Richmond's new mayor, Irma L. Anderson. "We are truly breaking new ground in friendship and cooperation between our peoples." Following the reception, the delegation will receive Keys to the City at the City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 2600 Barrett Avenue, Third Floor. At this time, the formalities of the Sister City Agreement will be fully completed. This historic moment concludes a process that began on September 14, 1999, when the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to establish the Sister City Relationship with Regla in order to promote the exchange of citizen delegations, and medical, educational, cultural and municipal resources. This agreement will pave the way for a new and promising relationship between the two cities and their peoples. During their stay, the delegation will tour government, health, education and cultural facilities. "We are very interested in this opportunity to learn how our friends in Richmond conduct city government business and how educational and health institutions operate," said Regla's Mayor Hernandez Barcelo. Richmond's Mayor Anderson, who as Vice Mayor led the City's official delegation to Regla in December of 1999, said, "We welcome the opportunity to reciprocate the warm welcome we received in Regla". For the past year, the Richmond-Regla Friendship Committee has worked to gather funds through donations from private citizens, and musical/cultural benefits to cover the travel and other expenses of the Cuban delegation. For further information contact Linda Harris, City of Richmond at (510) 620-6515.