The JINR Days in Latin America are being held on 1-5 February 2016 in Havana in the frames of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of JINR. Leaders of JINR came to participate in the festive events: JINR Director V.A.Matveev, JINR Vice-Directors M.G.Itkis and G.V.Trubnikov, JINR Chief Scientific Secretary N.A.Russakovich, Director of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions S.N.Dmitriev, Director of the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics V.N.Shvetsov, Director of the Laboratory of Information Technologies V.V.Korenkov, Head of the JINR International Cooperation Department D.V.Kamanin.

The celebration of JINR’s 60th anniversary coincided with the 40th anniversary of membership of the Republic of Cuba in JINR; this fact was reflected in a special issue of a brochure about JINR and the participation of the Republic of Cuba, as well as in materials of a permanent commemorative exhibition whose ceremonial opening was held on 1 February in an entrance hall of the Higher Institute of Technologies and Applied Sciences (InSTEC). The exhibition was opened in a warm and friendly atmosphere by JINR Director, InSTEC Rector Barbara Garea Moreda and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to JINR Professor Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart. JINR representatives told students and teachers of InSTEC about scientific and educational activities of JINR; the results of these activities were presented at the exhibition. M.G.Itkis gave a lecture on recent work of FLNR on synthesis of superheavy elements.

On the same day, the JINR delegation visited the Сenter for Advanced Studies of Cuba (CEAEС) which is being developed in Havana. The excursion was conducted by Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to JINR. During a conversation with leaders of CEAEC, common features of the scientific programme and the CEAEC research base and nanotechnology centre opened recently in the FLNR JINR were noted, as well as prospects of cooperation were outlined. Later the JINR delegation visited the University of Information Science (UCI).

On 2 February, in the Aula Magna hall of ceremonial meetings of the University of San Jeronimo, which is one of the oldest universities in Latin America, the ceremonies of conferring JINR Director V.A.Matveev the title “Honorary Doctor of InSTEC”, as well as conferring JINR Vice-Director M.G.Itkis the title “Distinguished Professor of InSTEC” were held in a ceremonial atmosphere. JINR Director presented JINR anniversary honorary diplomas to Cuban colleagues who have been working in Dubna in different years, and to students who have been trained at JINR.

Minister of Education and Science of Russia, Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to JINR D.V.Livanov made the welcoming speech at the ceremonial meeting. The meeting was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps from the JINR Member States accredited in Havana. JINR Plenipotentiaries of the Republic of Cuba and the Russian Federation took part in the ceremonial dinner organized by the Cuban side at the end of the ceremonial meeting.

The following days were dedicated to enhancement of scientific relations. On3 February, the JINR delegation visited the Institute of Molecular Immunology (CIMТ) and the Centre for Applied Technology and Nuclear Development (CEADEN), where FLNR staff member A.N.Nechaev and JINR Vice-Director G.V.Trubnikov gave lectures on scientific research and educational opportunities of JINR. JINR Director V.A.Matveev invited a Cuban delegation to take part in festive events in Dubna at the beginning of April 2016; the invitation was presented to Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to JINR in a ceremonial atmosphere.