This year marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Cuba. Upon a joint review of diplomatic archives of both Serbia and Cuba, it has been determined that the two countries initiated their diplomatic relations on 4 November 1902, by the correspondence between Aleksandar Obrenović, the then King of Serbia and Tomás Estrada Palma, the President of Cuba.
The Cuban struggle for independence from the colonial rule began in 1868 and lasted three decades. In 1902 the neocolonial republic was established and the diplomatic relations between Serbia and Cuba started that very year.
Today, Serbia and Cuba are friendly countries with long tradition of intensive bilateral relations, founded on mutual understanding and true brotherhood of the two nations. Cooperation in economy and culture has always been fruitful and it has intensified through time. The cooperation of the two countries in diplomacy has been strengthened especially through joint activities and participation in the Non-Aligned Movement, both at the time of foundation and the greatest rise of this organisation.
Cultural liaisons between the Serbian and Cuban peoples have special significance, making a sound ground for all the other forms of cooperation. The pillars of these liaisons stand in almost any area of artistic expression, especially in their common passion for contemporary music and cinematography, but also for the traditional canon in poetic and literary creation.
The issue of commemorative postal stamps “120 Years of Diplomatic Relations between of Serbia and Cuba” pays tribute by its visual contents to the two literary giants and national heroes of Cuba and Serbia, who lived and created approximately at the same time and who are linked by versatile interests and activities, outside the literary world - José Martí and Laza Kostić.
