During the formal presentation of the pro tempore presidency to Costa Rica, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez urged cooperation and multilateralism to achieve sustainable development and address inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In his remarks, Cuba’s President described the economic and social inequality that persists, among nations and within each country, as a shameful, with serious repercussions on development and the environment. He called for the adoption of comprehensive and sustainable policies, and for the promotion of cooperation and access to resources.

UN Secretary General António Guterres also called for collaboration among nations “as the only route to salvation in a post-COVID-19 world.” He praised Cuba’s work during its term as president pro tempore of the Commission, noting that he witnessed the nation’s performance first hand during a visit to Havana in 2018, when the island assumed the responsibility.

Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC Executive Secretary, praised our country’s leadership, support and collaboration, and pointed out that Cuba placed multilateralism, international cooperation, integration and sustainable development at the center of ECLAC’s proposals for the region.

Upon assuming the pro tempore presidency, the President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, not only acknowledged Cuba’s work, but also quoted our national hero José Martí: “The best way to speak is to act,” adding, “We assume this presidency with much enthusiasm and are committed to fulfilling ECLAC’s mandate, considering the principles of international cooperation, solidarity and promotion of human rights, leaving no one behind,” reported Prensa Latina.

(Taken from Granma)

Díaz-Canel will formally present the pro tempore Presidency of ECLAC to the government of Costa Rica, completing Cuba’s two-year term in the position, which began in May of 2018, when the 37th Session took place in Havana.

In an analysis of Cuba’s work, Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC executive secretary recognized our country’s leadership during its term as pro-tempore president of the body, characterized by “commitment and conviction.”

She noted that Cuba’s work “has been exceptional, excellent, fulfilling this responsibility within the framework of the pandemic, demonstrating immediate response capacity,” while highlighting Cuba’s solidarity, as well as the country’s emphasis on multilateralism as a key tool in promoting equitable sustainable development.

“We will miss Cuba’s leadership, but not Cuba, because despite the fact that it is relinquishing the presidency, it will continue, I am sure, to play a very active and very important role,” she said, according to Prensa Latina.

The agenda for these sessions includes a dialogue between foreign ministers, to address economic recovery post-COVID-19 and a Political Declaration, reported Costa Rican Deputy Chancellor Christian Guillermet, as well as a meeting of the South-South Cooperation Committee and a specific event to will address the challenges of the Caribbean, in addition to important parallel events on Afro-descendants, older adults, human rights and social protection.

(Taken from Granma)

In contrast to the cold, gray, and at times stormy day outside, the Cuban delegation continued on building harmonious and respectful relations with all countries.

At the stroke of noon, the President of the Councils of State and Ministers met with Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, as part of the collateral activities of leaders gathered at the United Nations.

The leaders expressed mutual recognition of the positive commercial relations between the two nations and the intention to advance further in the political sphere. They also considered the historic nature of these ties.

The Cuban President extended an invitation to Sánchez to visit the island, which the secretary-general of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party responded to favorably.

The Cuban President likewise held a meeting with Mauricio Macri, president of Argentina since December 10, 2015.

Later he spoke with Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, who thanked the Cuban leader for his compelling speech in the UN plenary dedicated to the memory of Nelson Mandela, and the contribution of the Caribbean nation to the defeat of apartheid.

They also recalled when, in 2015, Ramaphosa, then vice president, received Díaz-Canel, then first vice president of Cuba, in the city of Johannesburg.

The day continued with a meeting with Prime Minister of Barbados Mía Mottley, an expression of the respect that Cuba professes toward the nations of the Caribbean.
The Cuban President then spoke with the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço, who received him in September 2017 in Luanda, when he headed the Cuban delegation to his inauguration as president.

On this occasion, they also reiterated the will to expand political, economic and cooperation ties.

Díaz-Canel then spoke with the Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela, who in April, on the occasion of his election of as President of the Councils of State and Ministers, tweeted that he would continue to strengthen the ties of friendship between Cuba and Panama. This meeting at the UN was confirmation of that intention.

The Cuban President also spoke with Alicia Bárcena, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), with whom he previously met in May, when Havana hosted the 37th Session of the Commission.

As the afternoon drew to a close, Díaz-Canel exchanged with Federica Mogherini, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
These meetings were recognition of Cuba’s impact on global politics.

(Granma)

In a friendly atmosphere the two officials highlighted the excellent state of relations between the Cuban government and ECLAC, as well as their willingness to continue strengthening them.

Bárcena thanked Díaz-Canel for Cuba’s efforts in organizing this important event, while the Cuban president expressed his gratitude for the commission’s support in the updating of the island’s economic model.
The two officials also discussed international affairs.

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by ECLAC deputy executive secretaries Raúl García Buchaca and Mario Zimoli.

Participating on the Cuban side were Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, and Ileana Núñez Mordoche, respectively, as well as Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, Cuba’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

(Granma)

She stated that if Cuba and ECLAC have anything in common, it is the idea that “Economic growth and equality are not incompatible.”

“Equality, she insisted, goes hand-in-hand with growth in Cuba.”

She emphasized Cuba’s efforts to replace imports with domestic products, and cited the accumulation of internal capital as a shared interest across the region, in the face of limitations on participation in the international market.

Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, Cuban minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, reiterated that the country’s commitment to regional integration is part of the historic process of developing the country’s national identity.

He stressed the role of ECLAC in ongoing support for initiatives promoting the region’s economic and social development. During the foreign investment seminar, “Opportunities for Business and Sustainable Development for Cuba,” Malmierca Díaz explained that investment is an essential component of Cuba’s development strategy through 2030.

The European Union Commission’s director general of cooperation, Stefano Manservisi, also spoke, stating, “Being here is a way to recognize the leadership of Cuba.

“Our new initiatives are focused around a conception that transcends the concept of donor and receiver,” he continued, noting that “proposals reflect joint work, an agenda for all.”

On another note, the regional instrument “Facilitation for Development in Transition,” that will have an impact on the design and implementation of public policies to meet Sustainable Development Objectives, was signed by Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC executive secretary; Stefano Manservisi, director general of International Cooperation for the European Commission; and Mario Pezzini, director of the Development Center associated with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, within the framework of 37th period of ECLAC.

Meanwhile, as part of the panel entitled “Implementing the 2030 Agenda: Sustainable Development with Equality,” Fermín Quiñonez Sánchez, president of the Cuban United Nations Association (ACNU), emphasized that we cannot talk about sustainable development as long as wars of conquest, military interventions, and imperialist interests undermine the sovereignty, integrity, and independence of nations.

In the case of Cuba, he added, it will be much more difficult to advance in the implementation of sustainable development objectives if the criminal U.S. economic, financial and commercial blockade remains in place.

Since the beginning of the Revolution in 1959, Quiñonez said, the reaching of objectives and development goals has been based on the essential combination of political will and the accompaniment of the UN system of organizations.

He added that the organization of the event itself was coordinated by ACNU, an example of the involvement, commitment, and unity in action of Cuban civil society and national institutions, to build an increasingly more just society and advance in perfecting Cuba’s socio-economic model, with world peace and cooperation as the pillars that have always guided the Revolutionary government.

Likewise, the panel on South-South cooperation, entitled “Opportunities and lessons learned from the Cuban experience,” Alicia Bárcena referred to the topic of regional integration as a constant on Cuba’s and the ECLAC’s agendas, saying that, “Cuba has become an example of South-South cooperation.”

We have been able to get South-South cooperation on the road, she indicated, emphasizing that Cuba has never renounced its “soul of equality.”

In this sense, she said, “I will never forget Fidel’s speech in Brazil when he said that the problem was not hunger, but rather human beings, who were in danger of extinction.”

“It’s good to recognize social progress,” she said, recalling the significant steps Cuba has taken in its efforts to achieve social objectives such as the training of highly qualified human resources, despite the countries limited material resources, emphasizing the thinking that prevails here, and noting the existence of “much talent.” She cited the development of scientific centers, which by as early as 1992, made Cuba a reference in the field.

On the same panel, Cuba’s deputy minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Ileana Núñez, spoke of the disinterested help the Cuban government has offered, even when facing needs here, noting the generous spirit of the Cuban people as key to moving forward in regional integration and sustainable development in Latin America.

Jorge Chediek, director of the UN’s South-South Cooperation Office, concluded saying, “Thank you for what you are doing for the world. May the international community follow the example of Cuban doctors, who I have seen in Peru, in Brazil, arriving where others have not.”

(Granma)

Havana will host the forum for the first time since the triumph of the Revolution, in which crucial issues for the economic and social development of the countries of the region will be analyzed.

Cuba is an ECLAC founding member, and has participated in its activities since 1948. It hosted the second regular session in 1949.

Below, we outline some of the main topics that will be addressed this week in Havana’s International Conference Center.

1- CUBA ASSUMES PRESIDENCY PRO TEMPORE

Cuba will hold the ECLAC presidency pro tempore for a term of two years. In the 36th Session, held May 23 through 27, 2016, in Mexico City, the island was elected unanimously to take the reins of the regional body.

2- IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2030 AGENDA

Analyzing the development strategies of member states to meet the commitments of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals will also be one of the points of debate.

3- EQUALITY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Latin America and the Caribbean continues to be one of the most unequal areas on the planet, so this issue is key. In February, ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena noted that the meeting will discuss the idea and need for equality in Latin America and the Caribbean, in line with what was worked on in its four previous sessions held in 2010 in Brasilia; in 2012 in San Salvador; in 2014 in Lima and in 2016 in Mexico City.

4- SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

One of the themes proposed by Cuba as host state is South-South cooperation. The UN system on the island will offer a presentation on the opportunities and lessons learned from Cuban experiences.

A recent UNESCO report described Cuba as the most outstanding country in Latin America and the Caribbean, by a wide margin, in terms of its contributions to South-South technical cooperation with other developing nations.

5- FOREIGN INVESTMENT

The ECLAC Session will also see a seminar on foreign investment, business opportunities and sustainable development for Cuba, where representatives of the 46 ECLAC member countries and 13 associate members will be able to discover more about the island’s legislation in this regard.

The designation of Cuba as the host was agreed upon by member countries at the conclusion of the last period of sessions, held in May of 2016, in Mexico City.

These inter-governmental meetings are key to orienting the United Nations commission’s work, and offer a forum for discussion of major issues related to economic and social development in countries of the region.

Cepal will present a report on its activities to the 46 member nations, and invite reflection on progress made in implementing strategies related to the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.

“It is very important for our country to host the Cepal period of sessions, as a great opportunity to advance analysis of the big issues related to the region’s development in this collective forum,” said Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca, after signing the agreement confirming Cuba’s commitment to host the event.

Alicia Bárcena, Cepal executive secretary, explained that discussion and planning will focus on the importance of equality in the region, which remains the world’s most unequal, and will continue work on the course outlined in previous sessions held in Brasilia in 2010; San Salvador in 2012; Lima in 2014; and Mexico City in 2016.

“We maintain equality at the center of our proposals and emphasize the importance of ending the culture of privilege as the central prerequisite to advancing toward sustainable development,” Bárcena insisted.

(Granma)

In a cordial atmosphere, the two officials discussed the regional situation, in particular the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as the earthquakes which affected Mexico.

Bárcena conveyed her gratitude to the President for Cuba’s support in hosting the 56th Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, currently taking place in Havana.

Participating on the Cuban side during the encounter were Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a Council of Ministers vice president and minister of Economy and Planning, and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

(Granma)

Responding to questions from Prensa Latina, Alicia Bárcena explained that an increase in U.S. Federal Reserve interest rates and rising commodity prices are expected for 2017.

She acknowledged that all expectations are pinned on the position the U.S. adopts with regard to the Latin American and Caribbean region when President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, regardless of the protectionist tendencies evident in Europe.

“In any case, we must wait. Nobody has a crystal ball to see what will happen after January 20. We already have some ideas, but his (Trump) comments have not yet been applied in any specific area,” she stated.

Bárcena pointed out the risks of pushing toward protectionism, as well as greater nationalist trends in some countries, although there are no certainties that these could lead to anything particularly negative.

“Brexit, for example, has not had as many repercussions as might have been expected at first. The United States is something else, it is a very important neighbor; especially for Mexico and, in general, for all of Latin America and the Caribbean,” she added.

She noted that large U.S. companies continue to invest in Mexico and it is unclear whether remittances will see further taxes, “Therefore, it is necessary to view these issues with caution.”

Following a further question from Prensa Latina regarding the global economy, the head of ECLAC explained that her organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, are speculating as to the effects of globalization.

There is an understanding that globalization can not be one-sided, must not accentuate inequality; this is a concern recently expressed by the incoming United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, she noted.

Bárcena also referred to concerns about what is currently happening in European banking, what happened in Italy (a setback in reforms that forced the resignation of the prime minister) and a worrying scenario in France with upcoming elections.

However, the ECLAC Executive Secretary stressed that there are encouraging signs from China, following the recent visit of President Xi Jinping, who reiterated the commitment to invest in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In its annual Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and Caribbean 2016, the United Nations regional organization anticipated modest growth of 1.3% in 2017, after two consecutive years of economic contraction.

The analysis revealed that the Dominican Republic saw the greatest GDP growth in 2016, at 6.4% (with 6.2% growth predicted for 2017), followed by Panama (5.2% and 5.9% for 2017), and Nicaragua (4.8% and 4.7%), respectively.

Costa Rica (4.1% and 3.9% in 2017), Bolivia and Paraguay (both with 4% growth this year and 3.8% for the next period), and Peru (3. 9% and 4%), also stood out among the region’s economies.

“We are at a turning point. Latin America and the Caribbean will resume growth but moderately, and without clear engines driving it,” Bárcena concluded.

(Prensa Latina)

During the meeting, the senior United Nations official expressed her satisfaction that ECLAC has been able to accompany Cuba in the process of updating its economic model and confirmed ECLAC willingness to continue providing all possible assistance.

Issues of mutual interest on regional cooperation, in which Cuba keeps playing a leading role, were also addressed.

Director of the ECLAC Subregional Office in Mexico Hugo Eduardo Beteta, and Director of ECLAC Programme Planning and Operations Division Raul Garcia-Buchaca, accompanied Barcena in this meeting.

The Cuban side was represented by the Interim Minister Ileana Nuñez, and the Acting Director of International Economic Organizations William Diaz, both of the portfolio of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.

(Prensa Latina)