The meeting was held in a respectful atmosphere.

Rodríguez reiterated the condolences of the Cuban people and government following the damages caused by hurricanes Harvey and Irma in the U.S., and expressed gratitude for the condolences offered by the State Department to the island for the damages caused by Hurricane Irma.

The main purpose of the meeting was to address the alleged incidents regarding the unexplained hearing loss of U.S. accredited diplomats in Havana.

Cuba’s Foreign Minister reiterated the seriousness, speed and professionalism with which Cuban authorities have responded to these claims. A priority investigation was initiated following orders from the highest level of the Cuban government from the very moment they were informed of the events, and additional measures were taken to protect U.S. diplomats and their families. This has been recognized by representatives of U.S. specialized agencies, who have traveled to Cuba since June, and whose visits have been positively assessed by their Cuban counterparts.

Rodríguez stressed to Secretary Tillerson the importance of U.S. authorities effectively cooperating with Cuban authorities in order to clarify details regarding the claims, which are unprecedented in Cuba.

He reiterated that the decision of the U.S. government to withdraw two Cuban diplomats from Washington and the argument used to do so were unjustified, and emphasized that Cuba is strictly complying with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on the protection of the integrity of diplomats, in which the island has an impeccable record.

Rodríguez reiterated that the Cuban government has never, nor will it ever, perpetrate attacks of any kind against diplomats. Nor has it allowed, or will it allow, its territory to be used by third parties for this purpose.

He also informed Tillerson that according to the preliminary results of the investigation conducted by Cuban authorities, which took into account data provided by U.S. authorities, no evidence has yet been found regarding the causes and origin of the health conditions reported by the U.S. diplomats.

The Minister assured that the investigation to clarify this matter is still ongoing, and that Cuba has great interest in its conclusion, for which the efficient cooperation of U.S. authorities is essential. He stressed that it would be unfortunate if a case of this nature were politicized, resulting in hasty decisions unsupported by conclusive evidence and investigative results.

Rodríguez also confirmed the will of Cuba to continue the bilateral dialogue with the U.S. on issues of common interest, based on respect and sovereign equality, despite the profound differences that exist between the two countries.

(Granma)

Author: Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla | internet@granma.cu

september 22, 2017 16:09:30
Photo: Cubaminrex

STATEMENT BY H.E. Mr. BRUNO RODRÍGUEZ PARRILLA, MINISTER OF

FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA, AT THE SEVENTY SECOND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017.

Mr. President:

Mr. Secretary General;

Allow me to reiterate to you Cuba’s, support to your work at the helm of the United Nations and as a guarantor and advocate of international peace.

Heads of State and Government;

Distinguished delegates;

I would like to express my deep condolences to the relatives of the deceased and the victims of hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as our disposition to increase our cooperation, to the extent of our modest possibilities, with the brother peoples and governments of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, small Caribbean islands which suffered a terrible devastation; with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

I call upon the international community to give the highest priority to this situation and mobilize resources to assist the small Caribbean Island States and territories which have suffered such devastation.

We would like to convey Cuba’s warmest feelings of solidarity to the government and people of Mexico, particularly to the victims and their relatives, who were affected by both earthquakes, and reiterate to them our disposition to assist the population and support the recovery works with our modest efforts.

We also want to express our sorrow to the U.S. people, as well as our heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased and to all of the victims of hurricane

Mr. President:

I want to convey the testimony of the people of Cuba, who are currently carrying out a colossal effort to recover from the severe damages caused by hurricane Irma to housing, agriculture, the power system and other services. Despite the all encompassing preventive measures – which included the evacuation of more than 1.7 million persons- and the full cooperation of all citizens, we suffered the loss of ten persons.

The painful damages to services as well as the loss of social and personal goods as well as the hardships endured by families that spent many hours without electricity or water, contributed to strengthen the unity and solidarity of our noble and heroic people.

The moving scenes of rescuers saving a girl and giving her back to her mother; of a little boy picking up a bust of Jose Marti from the rubble; of students helping families they had not met before; of soldiers from the Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior doing the toughest jobs; of local leaders heading the most difficult tasks have become all too familiar.

During a visit paid to the area that suffered the most severe devastation. President Raúl Castro issued an appeal which literally read, and I quote: “These have been tough days for our people who, in only a few hours, have seen how what was built with great effort has been destroyed by a devastating hurricane. The images received during the last few hours are too eloquent, just as much as the spirit of resilience and victory of our people that are reborn in the face of every adversity.”

On behalf of the government and the people of Cuba, I sincerely appreciate the genuine expressions of solidarity and affection expressed by numerous governments, parliaments, international organizations and representatives of the civil society.

I would like to convey my profound gratitude for the numerous offers of assistance that we have received.

Mr. President:

I still keep vivid and emotional memories of the imposing presence of Fidel Castro Ruz, the Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution, and the great validity of the ideas he expressed before this Assembly.

On behalf of our people and government, I would like to express our gratitude for the feelings of respect, affection and admiration we have received from all latitudes.

Mr. President:

On Tuesday last, President Donald Trump came here to convince us that one of his purposes is to promote the prosperity of nations and persons. But, in the real world, the wealth owned by eight men altogether is equivalent to the wealth shared by 3.6 billion human beings, who make up the poorest half of humanity.

In terms of turnover, 69 of the 100 biggest entities of the world are transnationals, not States. The turnover of the world’s ten biggest corporations is higher than the public revenues earned by 180 countries combined.

Seven hundred million persons live in extreme poverty; 21 million are victims of forced labor. In 2015, 5.9 million children died of preventable or curable diseases before reaching the age of 5. A total of 758 million adults are illiterate.

Eight hundred and fifteen million persons suffer from chronic hunger -tens of millions more than in 2015. Two billion are undernourished. Even if the precarious decreasing growth rate of recent years rebounds, 653 million persons will continue to face hunger by the year 2030, and this will not be enough to eradicate hunger by the year 2050.

There are 22.5 million refugees. Humanitarian tragedies associated to migrants flows worsen and increase amidst a clearly unjust international economic and political order.

The construction of walls and barriers as well as the laws and measures adopted to prevent the waves of refugees and migrants have proved to be cruel and ineffective. There is a proliferation of exclusive and xenophobic policies that violate the human rights of millions of persons and fail to solve the problems of underdevelopment, poverty and armed conflicts, which are the main causes of migration and refugee claims.

Military expenditures have increased to 1.7 trillion dollars. That reality belies those who claim that there are not enough resources to eradicate poverty.

However, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development lacks the means for its implementation, due to the egoism and lack of political will of the United States and other industrialized countries.

What is the miraculous recipe that President Donald Trump recommends to us in the absence of the financial flows of the Marshall Plan? Who will contribute the resources for that? How can this be reconciled with the “America First” idea advanced by Presidents Reagan and Trump?

President Trump ignores and distorts history and portraits a chimera as a goal to be pursued. The production and consumption patterns proper of neoliberal capitalism are unsustainable and irrational and will inexorably lead to the destruction of the environment and the end of the human species.

Can anyone forget about the consequences of colonialism, slavery, neocolonialism and imperialism?

Could the several decades of bloody military dictatorships in Latin America be referred to as an example of a successful capitalism? Does anyone know of any recipe of neoliberal capitalism that has been better applied than those which destroyed the Latin American economies in the 1980s?

It is both indispensable and urgent for the United Nations to work in order to establish a new participatory, democratic, equitable and inclusive international economic order, as well as a new financial architecture that take into account the needs and peculiarities of developing countries and the asymmetries that exist in world trade and finances as a result of centuries of exploitation and plundering.

Industrialized countries have the moral duty, the historical responsibility as well as sufficient financial and technological means for that.

Not even the rich will enjoy the announced prosperity if climate change is not stopped.

Cuba regrets the decision taken by the government of the United States, which has been historically the principal greenhouse gas emitting government in the planet, to withdraw its country from the Paris Agreement.

In 2016, and for the third consecutive year, the average global temperature increase records have been broken, which confirms that climate change is a threat to the survival of humanity and the sustainable development of our peoples.

We reiterate our solidarity with the Small Island Developing States, particularly from the Caribbean and the Pacific, which are the most affected by climate change and for which we claim a just, special and differentiated treatment.

Mr. President:

The U.S. government has come here to tell us that, in addition to prosperity, the other two “beautiful pillars” of international order are sovereignty and security.

We all share the common responsibility to preserve the existence of human beings in the face of a nuclear threat. An important contribution to the achievement of that goal was the historical adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear

Weapons under the auspices of the United Nations, which proscribe the use and the threat of use of those weapons that have the capacity to annihilate the human species.

Obviously, the United States strongly opposed this treaty. It announced that it will invest 700 billion dollars in military expenditures and is developing an extremely aggressive nuclear and military doctrine based on the threat to use and the use of force.

NATO member States attempt against international peace and security and International Law by promoting military interventions and non-conventional wars against sovereign States.

As was pointed out by the Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz: “Let the philosophy of plunder disappear and the philosophy of war will also disappear!”

The illegal imposition of unilateral coercive measures and the use of financial, legal, cultural and communicational instruments to destabilize governments as well as the denial of peoples’ right to self-determination have become customary.

The covert use of ICTs to attack other States increases, while several developed countries strongly oppose the adoption of international treaties that would regulate cooperation in order to achieve a safe cyberspace.

The U.S. President manipulates the concepts of sovereignty and security to his exclusive benefit and to the detriment of all others, including his allies.

The attempt to resort to military threats and force to stop the irreversible world trend to multi-polarization and polycentrism will seriously jeopardize international peace and security, which should be defended and preserved through international mobilization.

The principles of sovereign equality, respect for the territorial integrity and non interference in the internal affairs of States should be observed. The UN Charter and International Law admit no re-interpretation.

The United Nations reform should pursue the principal goal of responding to the pressing needs of peoples and the great disadvantaged majorities. Multilateralism should be protected and reinforced in the face of the imperialist interests of domination and hegemony.

The democratization of the Security Council, both in terms of its composition and its working methods, is a most urgent task.

The strengthening of the General Assembly and the recovery of the functions that have been usurped from it are indispensable.

Mr. President:

The “patriotism” invoked in the U.S. statement is a perversion of humanism, the love and loyalty to the homeland and of the enrichment and defense of national and universal culture. It embodies an exceptionalist and supremacist vision of ignorant intolerance in the face of diverse political, economic, social and cultural models.

In developed countries, the loss of legitimacy of political systems and parties worsens and electoral abstentionism is on the rise. Corruption, whether legal or illegal, has turned into metastasis. So is the extreme case of the so called “special interests” or corporate payments in exchange for benefits in the country that spends the highest amount of money in electoral campaigns and where, paradoxically, a candidate with the lowest number of popular votes can be elected or entitled to govern with a negligible support by voters.

There has been and increasing and unheard-of use of science and technology to exercise hegemony, mutilate national cultures and manipulate human behavior, as is the case of the so called “big data” or psychometry, used for political and advertising purposes. Seven consortia keep a strict control of whatever is read, watched or heard in the planet. Technologies are being monopolized. The governance of digital networks is dictatorial and discriminatory and, despite appearances, the digital divide between rich and poor countries is increasing.

The opportunities and rights of youths, migrants and workers are curtailed and their human rights are openly and systematically violated.

The day before yesterday, the U.S. Vice-president, Michael Pence, ridiculously ignoring the functions of the Security Council and attempting to establish new prerogatives, said that this organ should modify the composition and methods of the UN Human Rights Council, which “doesn’t deserve its name” because “a clear majority of the Human Rights Council members fail to meet even the most basic human rights standards”. I suppose he is not including, in this case, his own country, which will in fact deserve to be included because of its pattern of systematic violations of human rights, namely the use of torture, arbitrary detentions and imprisonment -as occurs at the Guantanamo Naval Base-, the assassination of African Americans by law enforcement agents, the killing of innocent civilians perpetrated by its troops and the xenophobia and repression against immigrants -including minors- as well as its scarce adherence to international instruments.

Mr. President:

We reaffirm our strongest condemnation against all forms and manifestations of terrorism and reject the double standards in combating them.

The urgent search for a just and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East is based on the exercise of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the existence of a free and independent State within the pre-1967 borders, with Eastern Jerusalem as its capital.

The situation in Western Sahara requires an effort in conformity with the UN resolutions to guarantee the Saharan people’s exercise to self-determination and respect for their legitimate right to live in peace in their own territory.

Cuba reaffirms its support to the search for a peaceful and negotiated solution to the war in Syria without any foreign interference and with full respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The threats to international peace and security resulting from the expansion of NATO’s presence along the Russian borders are on the increase. We continue to reject the unilateral and unjust sanctions imposed against that country.

We demand respect for the so called Nuclear Agreement signed with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We reject the threat to totally destroy the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the home to 25 million human beings. War is not an option in the Korean peninsula; it would threaten the existence of hundreds of millions of persons in this area as well as in neighboring countries; it would lead to a nuclear war of unpredictable consequences. Only through dialogue and negotiation would it be possible to achieve a lasting political solution that should take into account the legitimate concerns of all the parties involved. We support the total denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, without any foreign interference, with absolute respect for sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States and strictly abiding by the principle of not using or threatening to use force.

Mr. President:

New threats are hovering over peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean, in open disrespect for the “Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace” signed in Havana by the Heads of State and Government of our region in January, 2014, on the occasion of the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

We reiterate what was expressed by President Raul Castro Ruz about the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on July 14 last:

“The aggression and putschist violence against Venezuela harms all of Our America and only serve the interests of those set on dividing us to exercise their control over our peoples, unconcerned about causing conflicts of incalculable consequences in this region, like those we are seeing in different parts of the world.

“Today we warn that those attempting to overthrow the Bolivarian and Chavista

Revolution through unconstitutional, violent and putschist methods will shoulder a serious responsibility before history.

We strongly reject the military threats against Venezuela, the Executive Order that designates it as a threat to the national security of the United States and the unilateral, unjust and arbitrary sanctions applied against it.

We reiterate our unwavering solidarity with the Bolivarian and Chavista government and people and its civic-military union led by the constitutional President Nicolas Maduro Moros.

We denounce and condemn the NICA Act Initiative, promoted in the U.S. Congress as part of an interventionist behavior which is intended to impose an economic blockade against the people and the government of Nicaragua, to whom we reiterate our support.

We express our solidarity with former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, victim of a political persecution intended to prevent him from running for direct elections by means of a judicial disqualification. Lula, President Dilma Rousseff, the Workers*

Party and the Brazilian people will always find Cuba on their side.

We reiterate our historical commitment with the free determination and independence of the Puerto Rican people.

We support the legitimate claim of Argentina for the sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands.

Cuba will continue to contribute, to the extent possible, and at the request of the parties involved, its efforts to achieve a stable and lasting peace in Colombia.

We will uphold our commitment to share our modest achievements with the peoples of the South, including the efforts of the 41 652 cooperation workers deployed in 63 countries to struggle for the life and health of human beings.

Mr. President:

On June 16 last, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the new Cuba policy of his administration, which is a setback in U.S.-Cuba bilateral relations and undermines the bases established two years ago to advance towards a new type of relation between our countries, characterized by respect and equality.

The U.S. Government has decided to tighten the economic, commercial and financial blockade by imposing new obstacles to the already limited possibilities its business community had to trade with and invest in Cuba as well as additional restrictions on U.S. citizens willing to travel to our country.

Those decisions ignore the support from broad sectors in the U.S., including the majority of Cuban émigrés, to the lifting of the blockade and the normalization of relations. They only serve the interests of a group of Cuban origin, based in South

Florida, which is an ever more isolated and minoritarian group that insists in harming Cuba and its people for having decided to defend, at all costs, the right to be free, independent and sovereign. Today we reiterate our condemnation of the measures aimed at tightening the blockade and reaffirm that any strategy intended to destroy the Revolution will fail.

Likewise, we reject the manipulation of the human rights issue against Cuba, which has a lot to be proud of and has no need to receive lessons from the United States or anyone.

This time we would like to express our strongest condemnation of the disrespectful, offensive and interventionist statement against Cuba and the Cuban government, made three days ago at this rostrum by President Donald Trump. We remind him that the United States, where flagrant human rights violations are committed, which raise deep concern among the international community, has no moral authority to judge my country. We reaffirm that Cuba will never accept any preconditions or impositions, nor will it ever renounce any of its principles.

Regarding the alleged incidents that would have affected U.S. diplomatic officials in

Havana we categorically affirm that the Cuban government rigorously and seriously abides by its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in relation to the protection and the integrity of all diplomats without any exception, including those from the United States. Cuba has never perpetrated nor will it ever perpetrate actions of this sort. Cuba has never allowed nor will it ever allow its territory to be used by third parties with that purpose.

The Cuban authorities, based on the preliminary results of the priority investigation that is being carried out with a high technical component, following instructions from the top level of our government, has taken into account the data contributed by the U.S. authorities and so far has found no evidence whatsoever that could confirm the causes or the origin of the health disorders referred to by U.S. diplomats and their relatives. The investigation to clarify this issue continues, and in order to be able to arrive to a conclusion, it will be crucial to count on the cooperation of the U.S. authorities. It would be unfortunate if a matter of this nature is politicized.

As was expressed by the Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz, Cuba is willing to continue negotiating all pending bilateral issues with the United States, on the basis of equality and absolute respect for the sovereignty and independence of our country; and maintaining a respectful dialogue and cooperation in areas of common interest with the U.S. government.

Cuba and the United States can cooperate and coexist, respecting their differences and promoting everything that benefits both countries and peoples, but no one should expect Cuba to make concessions that affect its sovereignty and independence.

Mr. President:

The Cuban people will not cease in their legitimate claim for the lifting and total elimination of the economic, commercial and financial blockade and will continue to denounce the strengthening of that policy. On November Cuba will once again present to the United Nations General Assembly the draft Resolution entitled

“Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” While inequality, the opulence of a few and the marginalization of many are growing in today’s world, the Cuban people will keep up its struggle to achieve the most just society possible. We will continue to steadily advance down the path of revolutionary transformations that has been sovereignly chosen by all Cubans to further improve our socialism.

Thank you, very much.

According to PL, Bolivian President Evo Morales described the blockade, in force for over 55 years, as an unjust and failed policy, adding that the U.S. must not only lift it, but also compensate Cuba for the damages caused its people, and return the territory illegally occupied by the Guantánamo Naval Base.

Meanwhile, President of Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Solís, also harshly criticized the high social, human and economic cost of Washington’s sanctions on the Cuban people.

According to Solís, the aggressive unilateral economic policy is ineffective and constitutes a serious violation of the Cuban peoples’ right to wellbeing and development.

On the second day of the 72nd Regular Session of the UN General Assembly, held September 20, Guyanese President David Granger, demanded an immediate end to the hostile policy which constitutes an obstacle to Cuba’s development.

Meanwhile, President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela, recalled the historic meeting which took place between the presidents of the United States and Cuba during the 2015 Summit of the Americas, held in his country.

In this sense, he called to continue supporting dialogue, social peace and unity looking toward the next Summit to be held in Lima, Peru.

(Granma)

As happens every October 20, residents of the area with a strong agricultural tradition, came together to march to the cemetery where the campesino leader is buried, in order to pay tribute to the man who chose honor and dignity over betraying the interests of the dispossessed and exploited.

“This is why we can never forget history,” warned 83 year old Gustavo Pupo Pupo, one of Sabino’s 11 children, also noting that “After living in misery only with the Revolution did we become people, we are the masters of our lives and destinies.” In clear reference to the intentions of the U.S. government to intervene in the internal affairs of the country, and as such provoke changes to their benefit, the veteran campesino emphasized that “All that glitters is not gold. No patriotic campesino allows himself to be bought or duped with proposals which divide us.”

Yudelmi Peña Díaz, a young campesina from Camalote, noted that such actions, “Far from dividing us, further strengthen us”; a sentiment shared by Wilmer Saute Sánchez, from the Juan Pantoja Cooperative, who stated that the best response to such threats is daily commitment and patriotic resolve.

“If they (the United States) really want to help Cuban campesinos, they must immediately lift the blockade, but completely, not with measures of limited scope which don’t get to the core of the bigger problem,” commented Ernesto Cancino Labrada, president of the Raúl Hernández Cooperative.

Following the tribute to Sabino Pupo Milián on the 68th anniversary of his vile murder, Hayda Díaz Figueredo, provincial president of the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP), noted that campesinos were given the opportunity to study thanks to the Revolution, and are fully aware of the true intentions of the U.S.

“Cuba belongs to Cubans, and we are constructing a model based on the ideas of Martí and Fidel. Despite limitations, we remain committed to the struggle for the country’s development, without ever negotiating our most sacred principles or values,” she stated.

(Granma)

‘We have had for a long time the maxim Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium. Thus, if there is a violation of the law, there should be a compensation,’ the lawyer, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as Special Rapporteur in 2012, told the news agency Prensa Latina.

According to the expert, the blockade, in force for more than 50 years, is a violation if the international law and the United Nations Chart, and brings serious consequences to Cuba.

De Zayas said the damage caused by the blockade reached billions of dollars and the compensation should be decided some time by a court.

He also said he expected that the support from the world solidarity groups brought some progress in that direction.

The UN General Assembly will vote an initiative about the issue on October 26 this year, a process that began in 1992 at the main UN deliberative authority.

De Zayas also tackled the issues of the extraterritoriality of the sanctions imposed on Cuba.

‘I am surprised that foreign companies continue to be fined for millions of US dollars by the Treasury Department when they do business with Cuba, under the argument of violating the blockade,’ he said.

(Prensa Latina)

Despite the executive decisions made by President Obama, the essence of the economic, financial and commercial blockade policy remains in full force. Thus the need to, once again, bring the issue before the UN, where Cuba has received solid global support for over two decades.

The report entitled, “The necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” estimates that the accumulated damage caused over the past half century of aggression to has reached $833,755,000,000, taking into consideration fluctuations in the price of gold.

According to experts, this is a conservative figure, and in reality could be much greater. The blockade not only implies added costs incurred given the need to operate in distant markets, but also causes millions of dollars in lost revenue which the country was not able to earn around the world – since other nations fear U.S. sanctions – in addition to lost opportunities to sell Cuban products in the world’s largest market.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez is in New York to participate in the vote, and will speak before the General Assembly of 193 nations.

Expected is a resounding condemnation of the aggressive policy, which remains in effect despite the fact that Cuba and the U.S. now maintain diplomatic relations, and President Obama himself has called on Congress to definitively end the blockade.

Just a month ago, a summit of some 50 heads of state and foreign ministers, meeting in New York at UN headquarters, expressed opposition to the blockade, which was described as anachronistic, unjust, senseless, an obstacle to development, a relic of the Cold War and an attempt to asphyxiate the Cuban people.

(Granma)

AFTER three days of intense activity, September 16-18, people from cities across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, returned to their respective homes with the commitment to continue the fight for an end to the criminal U.S. blockade of Cuba. Also among those participating were Cuban residents in the United States.

VISITS TO U.S. CONGRESS & SENATE

The Days of Action Against the Blockade were organized by a coalition of U.S. groups, including the International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples, IFCO – Pastors for Peace, the National Network on Cuba, the Institute for Policy Studies and the Venceremos Brigade, and began September 16, at the United Methodist Building, where participants gathered for an orientation on grassroots advocacy.

There they strategized about issues that they could possibly face in their meetings in the different congressional offices. In addition they heard from Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern, from Massachusetts, who told them of the importance of advocacy work as a way of educating aides who know little about the realities of Cuba.

The two days of visits were directed primarily at new Republican members of Congress. Six teams fanned out over the hill and visited a total of 57 offices, emphasizing the impact that the blockade of Cuba has not just on the people of Cuba, but also how the people of the U.S. would benefit with the ending of the cruel policy.

ECUMENICAL CULTURAL EVENING

On Wednesday September 16, solidarity friends gathered in the Florida Avenue Baptist Church for an ecumenical cultural event shared with residents of the DC area. The gathering was a celebration of all the contributions that Cuba makes toward the betterment of the world, in addition to the joy and hope that comes with the new phase of Cuba-U.S. relations. The evening also celebrated the return of the Cuban 5 who where unjustly imprisoned for many years in the United States for defending their country against terrorism.

A highlight of the evening was a performance by the dynamic and well known Hip Hop duo Rebel Diaz whose revolutionary music carries a message that urges activism against a system of injustice, racism and imperialist war.

The activity was chaired by Gail Walker, Executive Director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. The Rev. Dr. Earl D. Trent Jr., pastor of the Florida Avenue Baptist Church, who welcomed attendees. Hap Bockelie a Cuban solidarity activist from Seattle shared his poetry that reflected the strength of the Cuban Revolution. Also addressing the audience were Rev. Lennox Yearwood – CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, Rev. Thomas Smith from the board of IFCO/Pastors for Peace and Rev. Paula Sohl, of the United Church of Christ from Ashland Oregon, who recently traveled to Cuba on a Pastors for Peace Caravan for the first time.

THE CUBAN FIVE RETURN, AN ENTIRE COUNTRY CELEBRATES

As part of the Days of Action, a unique photographic exhibit, depicting images of the Cuban 5 during the period immediately after their return, opened at the University Of DC David A. Clarke School Of Law.

The exhibit captures the spontaneous joy of the Cuban people as they greet their heroes and the deeply moving moments as the Five reconnect with their own families.

The exhibit originally opened in Havana in April and this presentation at UDC marked the first time the photographs have been available for viewing in the U.S. Seven contemporary Cuban photographers contributed to the exhibit including, Ladyrene Perez, Roberto Chile, Abel Rojas, Ismael Francisco, Roberto Suarez, Hector Planes, Julio Alvite along with North American photographer Bill Hackwell who is also the curator of the exhibit.

The Dean of UDC, Shelly Broderick, welcomed the crowd on hand, followed by Professor Cris Houston who thanked the groups of student organizations who helped promote the activity. Also speaking at the event was Juan Lamigueiro, Second Chief of the Diplomatic Cuban Mission in Washington DC.

Canadian Professor and writer, Stephen Kimber, author of the book What Lies Across the Water: the Real Story of the Cuban Five highlighted the history of the case of the Cuban 5. To end the program Bill Hackwell spoke, relaying many anecdotes related to the release of the Cuban 5 and explained how special it was to be in Cuba during those first days after their release that led to the images in the exhibit.

ALL DAY CONFERENCE ON THE BLOCKADE

On Friday September 18, the final chapter of the Days of Action began early in the Shallenberger Auditorium of the Calvary Baptist Church in the downtown area of the capitol. The all day conference entitled “The U.S. blockade Against Cuba: why it’s wrong and what we must do to end it” was opened with a greeting from Rev. Joe Glaze, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church. Opening the plenary was well-known lawyer José Pertierra who addressed the current stage of relations between Cuba and the U.S. by urging the audience to continue to fight for a complete end to the blockade.

Gail Walker of IFCO/Pastors for Peace and Alicia Jrapko from the International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples co-chaired the conference throughout the day.

During the Conference the organizers emphasized the work, the example and the solidarity with Cuba of Rev Lucius Walker who passed away on September 7, 2010.

Speakers included attorney Robert Muse who specializes in laws pertaining to Cuba, the documentary film maker Catherine Muphy, Canadian authors on Cuba; John Kirk, Arnold August and Stephen Kimber, Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) graduate Dr. Melissa Barber, legendary leader of the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico Rafael Cancel Miranda, attorney for Oscar López Rivera; Jan Susler, longtime human rights activist Sonia Umanzor, seminarian Wesley Morris, and through a video the Rev. Raúl Suarez, Baptist Pastor of the Centro Memorial Martin Luther King, of Havana, Cuba.

The conference also had the intervention of two students of the Latin America School of Medicine Alberto Rodriguez Rivera of Puerto Rico and Guillermo Wanderley Ribeiro of Brazil, and recently graduated Dr. Adriano Belo Rodrigues Castanhola of East Timor, who in a workshop on health care in Cuba conveyed how their lives had been transformed while being trained for free to become doctors in Cuba. In response to the generosity of the Cuban government they pledged to return to their countries to fulfill their obligation to improve the health of the poor wherever needed.

A particularly special moment of the conference was the participation of the historic leader for the struggle for independence of Puerto Rico and former political prisoner in the U.S. Rafael Cancel Miranda who spared no time in explaining what patriotism, the love of homeland and humanity meant.

During lunch the powerful documentary Maestra, that interviews participants in the post revolution literacy campaign, was screened with the presence of its creator, Catherine Murphy. Netfa Freeman of the Institute of Political Studies, offered a tribute to Saul Landau, whose many documentaries added to a better understanding about the Cuban reality.

As the conference started to wind down José Ramón Cabañas, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba arrived and walked to the front of the room, while the large audience stood and chanted in unison “Cuba Si! Bloqueo No!” The ambassador spoke and answered questions for nearly an hour.

While the Days of Actions against the Blockade, endorsed by over 70 organizations, were taking place in Washington, so were parallel events in Brazil, El Salvador, Russia, Belgium, Sweden and Canada. Some 101 members of the Brazilian Parliament and nine Swedish legislators sent letters to the U.S. Congress calling for the lifting of the blockade.

(Granma)