The visit of the head of Cuban diplomacy to the South American nation takes place after the diplomatic triumph conquered by the island in the UN General Assembly, where the international community expressed its overwhelming rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States.

Previously, the Venezuelan Government welcomed the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, and the Prime Ministers of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, among other authorities from member countries of the bloc.

The executive secretary of the regional bloc, Sacha Llorenti, specified that the high-level meeting will pay tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo, a decisive military action in Venezuela’s independence struggle.

The meeting of high ALBA-TCP authorities will take place in a geopolitical scenario marked by the economic impact and human damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, together with the marked hostility of the United States against several countries in the area.

In recent statements, Llorenti pointed out that the member states of the bloc will ratify the integrationist will in the face of global challenges and threats to the peoples of the area.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)

Cuba’s participation in this event corresponds to its commitment to the international disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control regime.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, will also participate virtually in the High-Level Segment of the 46th regular session of the Human Rights Council, which will take place on 23 February 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland .

Cuba was elected in October 2020 as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2021-2023 period, supported by 88% of the UN members, represented in its General Assembly.

(Cubaminrex)

Also addressed were issues of mutual interest on the international and regional agendas.

President Díaz-Canel thanked the minister for Canada’s traditional support for Cuba´s resolution against the blockade in the United Nations General Assembly, and the position taken by the country against the implementation of the Helms-Burton Act by the United States.

He reiterated Cuba´s solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and our concerns regarding the damage caused to the nation and its population by the economic sanctions and hostile policies to which it has been subjected. The President also stated that U.S. attempts to impose the Monroe Doctrine are a danger to the entire hemisphere.

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by Canadian ambassador to Cuba Perry John Calderwood, and policy advisor Trevor Harrison.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and the general director for Bilateral Affairs at the Foreign Ministry also participated.

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The United State’ blockade is the most tenacious, ongoing persecution of all Cuban economic activity, in any part of the world; it is the universal war, with immense power in its favor, against the economy of our country, to the extreme of affecting individual transactions, even between persons, with individuals who attempt to conduct any economic activity whatsoever with our country.

It is unacceptable that the end of the blockade occur only in exchange for political concessions that contravene the sovereignty of our country. It is absolutely unacceptable, outrageous, irritating, and really we would prefer to perish rather that renounce our sovereignty

That is why this hostile policy did not prevent the Revolution from making the Cuban people the proprietor of its own country, and standing on the ruins of the pro-Yankee dictatorship we continue on this long, steep path.

Thanks to the noble, self-sacrificing people, to its laborers, manual and intellectual workers, its farmers and students, men and women, children, the elderly, and citizens of all ages, literate and illiterate, Cuba became proprietor of its own destiny, for the first time.

We will struggle for the day the blockade ends. Your confidence will not be betrayed; your affection and encouragement will not be useless. The seed you plant in our hearts will never be lost.

The criminal blockade, which they promise will be tightened, multiplies the honor and glory of our people, against whom their genocidal plans will fail.

Let us proclaim to the world with pride this record, which makes us worthy of the most just of all demands: that our homeland’s right to life and healthy happiness be respected. We will struggle to the death for this right.

(Granma)

Granma follows the second day of events at UN headquarters in New York as the General Assembly votes for the 27th consecutive time on Cuba’s resolution demanding an end to the blockade, which has punished an entire people for almost 60 years, for the sovereign decision to take control of our future.
Yesterday, 31 delegations took the floor to discuss the issue, despite U.S. efforts to disrupt the customary process by introducing eight amendments to the resolution. Expected today is overwhelming support from the international community for an immediate end to the blockade, according to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

(Granma)

The first attempt to conceal the truth is the very term “embargo” with which the U.S. government refers to the blockade. Under the guise of legal norms (although of dubious legality), and the frequently used legal term of “embargo,” the U.S. has carried out a criminal act against a sovereign state for almost 60 years. An act that damages and harms the entire Cuban people. We call it criminal because it is unjust, inhuman, and illegal. We must insist on this last aspect.

The alleged justification for the blockade – the nationalizations of U.S. properties in Cuba by the revolutionary governments in the early 1960s – is unfounded. These were acts of the Cuban state based on the 1959 Fundamental Law of the Republic, which in this regard contained the same regulation as the Constitution of 1940. At the international level, Resolution No.1803 entitled “Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources” adopted by the UN General Assembly December 14, 1962, supports this type of action by states, as an act of sovereignty over their wealth and resources on the grounds of public utility or social interest.

On the blockade as a legal instrument, it must be said that this is a complex and copious web of provisions, of dubious domestic legality, and completely illegal under international law, which constitute norms of economic coercion, that is, political measures under the guise of a normative framework.

In other words: an act of force dressed up as law. These are acts that attempt to justify reprisals and the desire for domination, and by this point demonstrate the great frustration of not having been able to defeat the people and overthrow the Cuban Revolution.

International law does not permit the use of a blockade as a measure of self-defense, that is, the supposedly defensive action of a state in the event of an act that harms its interests, except in the case of armed aggression, in which self-defense is permitted. Cuba has not attacked the United States. The nationalizations were a process of reclaiming control over goods and resources necessary for the country’s development, in the face of the boycott imposed by the U.S. government following the first revolutionary measure regarding property: the Agrarian Reform Law.

A simple review of several branches of law is enough to note that the blockade does not have any legal validity. In addition to violating the UN Charter, the blockade violates almost all principles of public international law, as well as the rights of states. The blockade is a violation of:

- Sovereign equality – the power of a state expressed through the right to freely decide on its internal and external affairs without infringing on the rights of other states or international law.

- The principle that states shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.

- The principle that states shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace, security, and justice are not endangered.

- The obligation not to intervene in the internal affairs of any other state, in accordance with the UN Charter.

From the point of view of private international law, the exorbitant extraterritoriality of the blockade regulations makes them totally illegal. No state has the legislative power to issue norms that are imposed beyond its territory, except those of a personal nature, relating to the rights and duties of its nationals.

In terms of international commercial law, the blockade violates the rules of the World Trade Organization, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the Law of the Sea, and any number of rules and principles on international contracts.

Regarding U.S domestic law itself, the web of regulations that make up the blockade have a legal form, but their content goes against the cultural norms of that nation, and its constitutional and legal foundations. Thus, they are arbitrarily imposed, rigid norms that are not based on the value of “justice,” or in line with the value of “law,” as they violate constitutional precepts. The regulations also curtail the individual rights of U.S. citizens (who cannot freely visit Cuba), while prohibiting foreign individuals and legal entities from freely entering into commercial relations with a third country (Cuba). In addition, amendments are invented to be retroactively applied to cases already decided on by the country’s highest judicial authority, thus violating the principle of judicial authority and review based on historic judicial precedents, in this case stemming from one of the most prestigious courts in U.S. legal history – that of the famous Judge John Marshall. The blockade also undermines the valid interpretation of the thought of the so-called Founding Fathers of the nation and state, by allowing issues and powers of the legislative branch to be concentrated in the executive, such as regulations on foreign trade, while granting excessive powers to the President.

And finally (though much more could be said), from the point of view of international criminal law, the blockade is a crime against humanity. According to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, crimes against humanity are all acts committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population. The systematic nature of the blockade against Cuba, which causes huge damage and losses to the Cuban population, makes it a mass crime against humanity.

The legal consequence of all the above is state responsibility: the U.S. must someday be held accountable for the blockade against Cuba, in accordance with the international responsibility of states. In the absence of an effective way to force states to comply with international law and the UN Charter, the blockade receives the universal condemnation of the international legal community, as never before received by any country, expressly stated in the repeated votes in favor of the resolution on the policy presented to the UN General Assembly.

There are two legal requirements to be a member of the UN: to be a peace-loving state that accepts the obligations contained in the United Nations Charter, and be able to carry out these obligations. Can it be said that the U.S. is a peace-loving state that complies with the Charter? The blockade shows that the answer is a resounding no.

It can thus be categorically stated in any forum or place that the blockade is not only an unjust act, but that it is also entirely illegal.

(Granma)

Once again, the UN General Assembly debated the draft resolution presented by Cuba calling for an end to the U.S. blockade. Despite U.S. attempts to sabotage the annual debate and pressure other nations to vote against Cuba – through the submission of eight ridiculous amendments to the text – this October 31 saw a wealth of nations express their support for Cuba and condemn this criminal, genocidal policy.

The 27th annual vote on the Resolution will take place tomorrow, November 1st.

Granma International offers a summary of some of the main speeches:

EL SALVADOR
El Salvador’s representative to the UN, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) stressed: “The U.S. should normalize relations through bilateral dialogue according to international law. The U.S. should end the blockade and return Guantánamo to the Cuban people.”

SINGAPORE
Singapore’s UN representative, speaking on behalf of ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) stated: “Ending the blockade will contribute to economic development of both Cuba and the U.S.”

VENEZUELA
Venezuelan Ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, spoke on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM): “The Movement takes the opportunity to denounce the coercive and unilateral measures implemented by the U.S. government toward Cuba.” He emphasized that the blockade damages all vital sectors of the economy, that Cuba has been denied access to international markets and technology transfer, and that the prolongation of the policy is totally absurd.

THE BAHAMAS
UN representative of The Bahamas, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), expressed support for Cuba’s resolution: “The blockade is a punitive act against the Cuban people. Cuba is a peaceful and cooperative state – and a voice of reason for matters on the international agenda.”

VIETNAM
Vietnam’s representative referred to Trump’s Cuba policy: “Since last year, the embargo has been further intensified and tightened – representing further setbacks in U.S.-Cuba relations and causing grave damages to the Cuban people.”

JAMAICA
Jamaica’s ambassador noted: “The U.S. embargo of Cuba is an affront to the collective expression of the international community that has consistently called for the embargo to be lifted.”

SOUTH AFRICA
The South African representative to the UN stressed: “As a manifestation of solidarity, Cuba shares its human resources across the global south… Cuba made a great contribution to the elimination of apartheid, and for that we are eternally grateful.” He continued: “South Africa rejects the United States’ amendments to Cuba’s resolution. They are clearly an attempt to undermine the serious issue of the collective human rights violations imposed by the U.S. against the Cuban people through the embargo.”

BOLIVIA
The Bolivian Ambassador to the UN noted: “It is highly cynical of the U.S. to attempt to tamper with Cuba’s resolution… The U.S. is trying to attack the entire multilateral system and the principles of the UN.” He added: “We should pay tribute to Cuba who has provided selfless assistance to so much of the world in health, in education: Where illiteracy plagues countries – Cuba is there. When Ebola struck – Cuba was there. When earthquakes happen – Cuba is there. Cuba keeps hope alive.”

ALGERIA:
Algeria’s representative explained: “Cuba is more than just a friend that stood by us in dire times… Cuba has expressed solidarity in many parts of the world, including the undeniable commitment and expertise shown by the Cuban doctors who responded to the call to help fight the Ebola crisis in 2014.

NICARAGUA:
Nicaragua’s representative to the UN emphasized: “Despite the U.S. attacks, Cuba continues to remain strong. Cuba is solidarity. Our Cuban brothers and sisters have always been the vanguard for responding to emergency situations in any part of the world.”

(Granma)

He explained that the U.S. State Department originally presented a document consisting of eight paragraphs of amendments to the draft resolution “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.” However, the text was hastily divided into eight separate amendments that will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly for analysis tomorrow.

All this pursues the obvious aim of creating a pretext to tighten the blockade, and attempt to present the illusion that there is international support for the policy, Rodríguez stressed. The U.S. delegation to the UN seeks to disturb, consume time, create confusion and hinder the adoption of the resolution calling for the end of the blockade against Cuba.

The amendments presented by the United States have the objective of changing the nature of the resolution that opposes the blockade, with emphasis on the extraterritorial application of the policy, he explained. Instead, he said, the United States wants to turn it into a resolution that contains attacks against Cuba in the field of human rights, which are totally unjustified.

Cuba has presented this draft resolution for the last 26 years and, this time, the United States seeks to obstruct the adoption of the resolution, and thus disguise “the massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of all the Cuban people,” that the blockade represents, the Minister emphasized.

The U.S. delegation is thus forcing the UN General Assembly to debate eight aggressive amendments, which manipulate the issue of human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. Rodríguez noted that there are other bodies of the UN where it would be more appropriate to seriously debate such issues.

Unlike in previous years, in the morning session this Wednesday, October 31, there will be a debate in the General Assembly about the resolution presented by Cuba, including remarks by groups of countries and member states. The vote on the draft resolution calling for the end of the blockade will take place on Thursday, as instead of facilitating a short voting act as in previous years, the U.S. State Department seeks to alter the process through the submission of these eight separate amendments, he explained.

“It is a policy that violates international law, transgresses the internationally recognized rules of commerce, violates freedom of navigation, that constitutes an act of aggression and economic warfare.

“Powerless, the government of the United States has found no other way this year than to try to hamper the adoption of the resolution, or to modify the content in an opportunistic, underhand manner.

“Thus, my impression is that the United States government, in its desire to increase tensions, increase hostility against Cuba, knows no bounds in this case, in creating difficulties for the General Assembly, which is an international, universal and democratic body of the United Nations.

“It is an attempt that will surely be rejected, but that does not pursue other purposes than to try to mask the situation of absolute and profound isolation that the United States government has in relation to Cuba, and to obscure the overwhelming rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade.

“We are confident that the amendments will be rejected, and that the resolution will receive overwhelming majority support, as has happened in the past,” the Cuban Foreign Minister stressed.

(Cubaminrex)

A few days ago, the U.S. Secretary of State, on a tour of several countries in the region, stated that continuing in effect is the Monroe Doctrine, the most notorious interventionist policy of U.S. imperialism in our region. He called for a military coup against the constitutional government of Venezuela and advocated strengthening sanctions on the country. The decision adopted is not unrelated to these declarations and actions.

In this context, Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls the arbitrary and aggressive U.S. Executive Order, renewed in January of 2017, that describes Venezuela as “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy” of the superpower, and President Donald Trump’s most recent warning about utilizing “a possible military option, if necessary.”

It is unprecedented and incredible that now being used as a pretext is an alleged “unconstitutional rupture of the democratic order,” precisely in a country which has held, within a few months time, municipal, regional, and Constituent Assembly elections, and has just called Presidential elections, precisely as has been demanded, including via external interference and unconstitutional, violent methods.

Cuba denounces this statement and the exclusion of Venezuela from the Summit of the Americas as contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, signed by heads of state and government of countries which are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Cuba’s unwavering solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the military-civic union of its people, led by constitutional President Nicolás Maduro Moros.

Absolutely relevant are the words of Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, on July 14, 2017, when he said, “Aggression and coup violence against Venezuela hurt all of Our America and only benefit the interests of those who attempt to divide us, in order to assert their dominance over our peoples, regardless of the incalculable consequences for the region, like those we are witnessing in different parts of the world. We warn those who today attempt to overthrow the Bolivarian Chavista revolution, using unconstitutional, violent, coup-plotting methods, that they are assuming a serious, responsibility before history.”

(Granma)