In a statement, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said: ‘The agreements subscribed by Cuba in this field are supported by the need to maintain our defensive capacity in order to preserve national sovereignty’
It said the vessel was bound for North Korea mostly loaded with sugar – 10,000 tons of it – but added that the cargo also included 240 metric tons of ‘obsolete defensive weapons’: two Volga and Pechora anti-aircraft missile systems, nine missiles ‘in parts and spares,’ two MiG-21 Bis and 15 engines for those airplanes.
It concluded by saying that Havana remains ‘unwavering’ in its commitment to international law, peace and nuclear disarmament.
Panamanian authorities said it might take a week to search the ship, since so far they have only examined one of its five container sections.
They have requested help from United Nations inspectors, along with Colombia and Britain.