Cuba offers aid to Haitian migrants

The Cuban Red Cross is aiding 253 Haitian migrants who landed at a port on central Cuba's north coast, state daily Granma said on Tuesday.

The migrants, including 31 children and 61 women, were on a boat bound for the United States, but bad weather forced the vessel to dock at midnight Sunday at Kasasa port in Ciego de Avila province.

The Cuban Red Cross was notified of the landing and dispatched a team to help set up accommodations, providing basic necessities such as food and personal hygiene items, said Granma.

Maria Gonzalez, a member of the Cuban Red Cross, said the migrants were being taken care of while Cuban authorities were contacted to ensure their organized, safe and voluntary return to their country of origin.

In May, a U.S.-bound boat carrying 842 Haitians landed on the coast of Caibarien in Cuba's Villa Clara province. In February, 292 Haitians arrived in Ciego de Avila province.

In all cases, the migrants were repatriated, according to Cuban authorities.

Saudi-Tajik Investment Forum kicked off in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, in the presence of Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Chairman of the Tajik Investment and State Property Committee Saadi Kadirzadeh, and representatives of the government and private sectors from the two countries, with the participation of major Saudi and Tajik companies.

Al-Falih stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations at all levels and contributing to the development process taking place in Tajikistan, highlighting the importance of continuous development of the trade exchange, tourism, agriculture.