The governments of Paraguay and of Cuba reestablished diplomatic relations on November 8 after a 40-year interruption.

Paraguay was the only country in South America that lacked diplomatic ties with Cuba, according to reports reaching here from Asuncion.

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Jose Felix Fernandez and visiting Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Jorge Bolanos made the announcement in Paraguay's capital city of Asuncion.

The reactivation of relations precedes the ninth Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State or Government that will be held on November 15 and 16 in Havana, Cuba.

The Cuban vice minister said that President Fidel Castro and his Paraguayan counterpart, Luis Gonzalez Macchi, will hold a "special meeting" duning the Ibero American Summit.

Former military leader Alferdo Stroessner, who held power in Paraguay from 1954 to 1989, broke relations with Cuba in 1959 after the victory of the Cuban revolution.

The governments of Paraguay and of Cuba began in 1994 contacts for reestablishing ties.