Society Mobile-La Habana

	US-Cuba Sister Cities Association
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Alabama gets $10 million purchase pledge from Cuba thanks to Society Mobile-La Habana's pioneering groundwork, 2/10/03

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Society Mobile-La Habana

Mobile, Alabama was the first U.S. city to establish fraternal ties with a city in Cuba. The City of Mobile, with ancient historical ties to Havana, has developed exemplary relations with the Cuban capital. The Society was organized in the spring of 1993 and the fraternal arrangement officially began in October 1993 when Mobile’s mayor and council and Havana’s mayor signed the twinning agreement.

Several exchanges of delegations have taken place, including scholars, artists, religious figures and musicians. The Cuban ecumenical choir SHALOM gave concerts at schools, City Hall and various churches, including the Mobile Cathedral. Several ministers, the Bishop of Cuba, Cuba’s representative in Washington and noted historian Eusebio Leal, among others, have visited Mobile. The mayor of Mobile, along with other city officials and members of the Society have traveled to Havana to visit hospitals, schools, museums and public agencies.

To find out more about how you might get involved, write to:
Robert Schaeffer, President • Society Mobile-La Habana • 2507 Myrtle Street, Mobile, AL 36607
Tel. 334-675-5990 • Fax 334-208-7428 • e-mail: schaefer@zebra.net

Alabama gets $10 million purchase pledge from Cuba thanks to Society Mobile-La Habana's pioneering groundwork

Alabama Delegation: Cuba to Buy Products  2/10/03 AP: "Cuba's food import company pledged to buy $10 million in agricultural products from Alabama in a move to revive historic trade ties with the southern state, members of a delegation said Monday. Alabama Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley said that Pedro Alvarez of Alimport asked the delegation over the weekend to work with Alabama producers in drawing up a list of farm products."

Alabama group says Cuba to buy $10 million in state farm products  2/10/03 AP: "Mobile Mayor Michael C. Dow, who has visited Cuba numerous times in recent years through the Mobile-Havana Sister City program, said the two ports share a history of more than three centuries. "We want the trade back, the ability to travel freely," said Dow. "We want Alabama to once again be a good friend of Cuba."

First Cuba flight from Mobile in 43 years takes city, state group  2/9/03 AP: "A group of local and state officials were in Havana over the weekend, including Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley and Retirement Systems of Alabama chief David Bronner, who is researching whether the bankrupt US Airways should begin flights to the island. RSA is a majority owner of US Airways… The Havana trip included Mobile Mayor Mike Dow and Al St. Clair, the Alabama port city's special projects director, joined by Baxley, Bronner and others on two chartered flights organized by Mobile-based Ala Caribe Initiative Inc. These were the first direct flights from Mobile to Cuba in over 43 years… Mobile City Council member Stephen Nodine, a critic of ties with Cuba, said this trip should be secondary to more immediate concerns. "Our city's budget is $1.5 million short and is probably going to end up being $6 to 7 million in the hole," Nodine said. "I think it's imperative for the mayor to focus on our problems here in Mobile." Nodine said he thinks Cuba is broke and the city should not be engaging the communist regime and its leader, Fidel Castro. Some Mobilians have been courting better relations with Cuba for the last decade. The Society Mobile-La Habana, a sister-cities group, was created in 1993, and ties with Havana were sealed in 1994 when Dow made his first visit." Mr. Nodine, this group secured $10 million in agricultural sales from Cuba. The ancient relations with Cuba can now continue to the mutual profit of both sides.

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Society Mobile-La Habana
September 14, 1998
Minutes
http://pages.prodigy.net/jorene/min9809.htm

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