“It is a pleasure to receive you on this visit to our country, which marks another moment in the strengthening of Cuba’s relations with the United Nations Population Fund,” said the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and president of the Republic. , Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, welcoming Dr. Natalia Kanem, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Organization and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, who is in Havana, at the Palace of the Revolution responding to an invitation from the Cuban Government.
Marked by the commitment to continue working together in multiple spaces, the meeting took place this Wednesday morning, where the Cuban Head of State thanked the senior United Nations official for the cooperation that both she and said organization have maintained with Cuba in all these years.
In this sense, the president highlighted the support received during the confrontation with the COVID-19 epidemic; more recently on the occasion of the passage of Hurricane Ian through Cuban territory, and in general the work that has been sustained in matters of advice and exchange of criteria on the demographic issue in Cuba. He also made reference to a group of programs for the care of children and adolescents in situations of vulnerability; the treatment of HIV/AIDS and other population issues that are addressed together.
After acknowledging the support provided to Cuba by the United Nations Population Fund in confronting the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US administration, President Díaz-Canel ratified the Cuban Government’s commitment to all the agreements of the Conference International Conference on Population and with the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Consequently, he detailed to Dr. Natalia Kanem about the link that has been achieved in the Government’s strategic planning with these working principles, closely related to the National Economic and Social Development Plan of Cuba for 2030.
“We are at a particularly important moment to continue strengthening our mutual cooperation and collaboration,” said the Cuban president. In particular, Díaz-Canel highlighted the recent approval, in a broad democratic exercise, of a new Family Code, which is advanced and modern, and in which many guarantees and rights are defended that have to do with very sensitive issues for the Cuban population.
After explaining other aspects related to the new legal norm and highlighting the development of several projects that are being carried out in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund, the Cuban president confirmed to the executive the will of our Government to continue deepening and working on those issues.
The solidarity of the United Nations is invariable
Meeting between the Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the Deputy Secretary General of the UN, Natalia Kanem, on October 19, 2022 in Havana. Photo: Revolution Studios.
Thanks and recognition followed by Dr. Natalia Kanem, who conveyed to the President of the Republic a greeting from the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization, Antonio Guterres. The United Nations —she assured— is also very happy with this visit.
The senior executive of the UN, a pediatrician by profession, commented to the Cuban Head of State that shortly before this meeting she had given a keynote speech, as part of the work sessions of the Cuba-Health International Convention 2022. “I am coming right now from the Convention Palace and I was very happy to see so many young people from all over the world at that meeting”, he highlighted.
I must express to you, she said, the admiration I feel for this country. Next, he detailed to President Díaz-Canel about other activities carried out during his stay in Cuba, such as visits to a daycare center and the Belén Convent where he was able to verify —he meant— the treatment and attention given to people of the elderly, something very important, bearing in mind that it is an aging population.
Associated with this last topic, Dr. Natalia Kanem reflected on the dissimilar challenges that exist in population issues and in which it is urgent to face a series of inequalities. “Our organization is working on projects that involve Afro-descendants and indigenous people; We hope that Cuba can also join those efforts.”
During the cordial and relaxed dialogue, the distinguished visitor was accompanied by members of her team. Meanwhile, on the Cuban side, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, and Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, Vice Minister of Foreign Relations, also participated.