Faced with this new situation, the members of the ELN peace delegation that remained in Cuba withdrew from the national territory, in compliance with an agreement between the National Government of Colombia and the ELN, and the guarantors of Norway, Venezuela and Cuba.

As is known, on January 18, 2019, the Government of Colombia publicly announced the decision to conclude the peace talks between the Colombian government and the ELN, which had been taking place in Havana, Cuba, at the request of the then President Juan Manuel Santos, of the ELN and other international actors.

From that very moment, Cuba appealed to the Government of Colombia and the ELN, so that they adopt the pertinent actions that would allow applying the entitled “Protocol Established in Case of Breakdown of the Negotiation of Peace Dialogues Colombian Government-ELN”, signed in the framework of the peace negotiations by the Government of Colombia, the ELN and the guarantor countries on April 5, 2016.

Said protocol establishes that “if the peace talks break down, the countries and the parties will have 15 days from their announcement to plan and specify the return to Colombia of the representative members of the ELN delegation.”

Forty-five months have passed since the time the agreement should have been fulfilled.

Regarding the permanence in Cuba of the ELN peace delegation, the previous Colombian government developed hostile actions against Cuba, through the ungrateful and politically motivated manipulation of the Cuban contribution to peace in Colombia and ignored the rupture protocol, frankly abandonment and breaking of the commitments acquired by that State with six other signatory nations.

The actions of the previous government of Colombia, in collusion with anti-Cuban sectors in the United States, provided the pretexts for the purposes of the Trump Government to intensify the economic, financial and commercial blockade against Cuba and the illegitimate designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism that causes enormous costs and serious humanitarian consequences for the Cuban people.

Cuba acted in strict adherence to its status as guarantor and alternative venue, in an impartial, responsible, professional and discreet manner, in the interest of a political solution to the conflict in Colombia to achieve the peace that its people long for.

With the application of the rupture protocol, what was agreed between the parties and with the guarantors is fulfilled and it is confirmed that the position of principles and in adherence to international law adopted by Cuba was correct.

Likewise, Cuba supports the announcement made today in Caracas by representatives of the Government of Colombia and the ELN, in the presence of the guarantors of Venezuela, Norway, Cuba and special guests, that the talks table will be reinstated in the coming weeks.

Cuba reiterates its decision to carry out this process in the strictest respect for the consent and specific agreements reached between the Government of Colombia and the ELN based on official requests received from them.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba reiterates that Cuba will continue to support and contribute, together with the guarantor countries, to the negotiations with the ELN, which it sees as an opportunity and reiterates its deep conviction that the Colombian people deserve peace. and find the ways to reach it.

On his Twitter account, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla ratified the Minrex statement.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, will speak today at the high-level segment of the 77th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

On this occasion, Cuba will ratify its commitment to peace and multilateralism, in an effort to achieve a more democratic, fair and equitable international order, based on full respect for the UN Charter and International Law, the Foreign Minister recently said. Cuban on Twitter.

Rodríguez heads the delegation from the largest island of the Antilles to this meeting, the first to be held in person after the Covid-19 pandemic, in which 150 heads of state, government and foreign ministers from all over the world participate. .

Since his arrival last Saturday in New York, United States, the highest representative of Cuban diplomacy has developed an intense schedule of bilateral contacts with counterparts from a dozen nations.

The day before, the Cuban official spoke with his counterpart from the Saharawi Arab Republic, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, about the historic links of cooperation and solidarity between both peoples and governments.

Also, in a meeting with the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Joao Cravinho, the parties agreed on the need to develop and expand the political dialogue.

The minister also met with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, on the consolidation of ties between the two countries and mutual support in the face of unilateral blockades and sanctions, and thanked the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister, Denis Moncada, for the constant shows of solidarity with Cuba.

Previously, Rodríguez spoke with Adaljiza Magno, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste and former member of the Constituent Assembly, about the remarkable results of the island’s medical collaboration.

(With information from Prensa Latina)

In his speech before the prime ministers and heads of delegations of the member states and observers of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Cuban Head of Government ratified the political will to deepen relations with the nations of the Union. He also stated the intention to achieve an active participation of the Eurasian business community in investment projects, increase and diversify exports of goods and services and implement joint ventures in various sectors. He also highlighted the need for collaboration between these States in the context of complex international circumstances.

Marrero Cruz extended the invitation to the government and business representatives of the countries of the Union to participate in the thirty-eighth International Fair of Havana, which will be held from November 14 to 18.

The Prime Minister thanked, on behalf of the Cuban people and Government, the expressions of solidarity due to the fire that occurred at the Supertanker Base in Matanzas, as well as the permanent support of the Member States of the Union to the Cuban cause for the cessation of economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government.

This is the fifth session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in which Cuba participates, after receiving the status of observer State of the Eurasian Economic Union on December 11, 2020.

(With information from Cubaminrex)

A call for a meeting made by the United States to the Organization of American States (OAS) to “analyze the situation in Cuba,” no doubt to justify interference, failed miserably due to the refusal of the majority of its member countries.

Party Political Bureau member and Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla posted a tweet yesterday, July 28, describing the events as a defeat for the U.S. within the pro-imperialist entity.

“Anti-Cuban maneuver in the OAS defeated. Rejection by a majority of member states forced suspension of a Permanent Council meeting,” the Foreign Minister stated, adding that the President pro tempore of the Council admitted the failure through a “pathetic letter insulting Cuba.”

Rodríguez Parrilla also thanked the countries which “defended Latin American and Caribbean dignity,” refusing to support the maneuver.

According to a report by Russia Today, Washington Abdala, president pro tempore of the Permanent Council, reported that, after receiving statements from several countries, it was decided to postpone the meeting to conduct consultations that could be useful.

Abdala added that he has asked the organization’s Secretariat for Legal Affairs to prepare a report on the situation in Cuba in relation to the OAS – an organization with no moral authority and a long history of betraying the peoples of Latin America. He said the document will be shared with OAS members when it is available.

(Taken from Granma)

Declaration by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On July 1, 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken submitted his department’s ‘2020 Trafficking in Persons Report’, a document which, in common with others of the kind published by the Department, entirely lacks international or moral authority; it is a vehicle purely for false accusations and political blackmail.

It propagates yet another lie, by accusing Cuba of inadequate compliance with the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking in persons and of failing to make significant efforts in this respect. This accusation forms part of a campaign by Washington to discredit Cuba’s international cooperation efforts in the sphere of healthcare, for which Cuba has received recognition by dozens of governments and the gratitude of the populations which have benefited from it – almost entirely the humblest and most disadvantaged of the countries concerned; it has also evoked plaudits from the UN, the WHO and other international bodies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects in the strongest possible terms this defamatory campaign by the US government, instigated in concert with America’s most reactionary and corrupt sectors, including extremist groups of Cuban origin represented in Congress by the likes of Senators Marco Rubio and Robert Menéndez.

Cuba has a policy of zero tolerance of trafficking in persons in any form and an impeccable record of prevention, combating and victim protection in this field, as recorded at the UN and with other international organizations.

Access to medical attention is a human right. Washington is committing a crime when it seeks to prevent people from receiving such services under bilateral agreements entered into freely and as a sovereign act between Cuba and dozens of governments, to benefit from the professional, dedicated, selfless work in a spirit of solidarity by hundreds of thousands of Cuban medical co-workers.

By repeating the immoral prevarications of the Trump administration, the present US foreign policy casts doubt on the seriousness of America’s commitment to combating the terrible scourge of people trafficking, while trivializing the international efforts underway in this respect.

America itself is among the countries with the worst problems of person trafficking. Its policies aimed at stifling the Cuban economy and its failure to honor bilateral migration accords play into the hands of organizations linked to international crime, smuggling of emigrants and trafficking in persons.

Havana, July 3, 2021

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects in the most categorical terms the determination made by the U.S. State Department that Cuba does not fully cooperate with U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, reported May 25, 2021 in the U.S. Federal Register.

The Donald Trump administration issued this same characterization June 2, 2020, as a preliminary step leading to the inclusion of Cuba on the State Department’s list of states that allegedly sponsor international terrorism, which was made public on January 11, 2021, just days before the inauguration of President Joseph Biden, with the clear purpose of impacting the latter’s conduct toward our country.

This is a totally unfounded accusation used for political purposes, in an attempt to justify aggression against Cuba, including the inhuman economic, commercial and financial blockade our people suffer.

The Ministry also rejects the unilateral and selective U.S. practice of singling out countries on arbitrary lists with respect to terrorism, which lack legitimacy and violate international law and the United Nations Charter.

Our country has been the victim of 713 terrorist attacks, in their majority organized, financed and executed by the U.S. government or individuals and organizations that are protected and act with impunity in U.S. territory. These acts have cost the lives of 3,478 Cuban citizens and disabled 2,099. Human and economic damages caused are estimated at 181 billion dollars.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls the various attacks on Cuban personnel and representatives abroad, among them the machine-gunning of our Embassy in Washington DC on April 30, 2020, which endangered the lives and safety of the diplomatic mission’s staff. The government of the United States has not yet publicly acknowledged the terrorist nature of that attack.

Cuba’s Constitution codifies our repudiation and condemnation of terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations. Our nation has maintained a transparent and impeccable attitude in the fight against terrorism, and has expressed its willingness to cooperate with U.S. authorities as it does with other countries. The U.S. government is well aware of this. There are concrete examples of this willingness, within the framework of existing bilateral instruments and in accordance with international law. We maintain our commitment to the peace process in Colombia, despite being the victim of repeated politically motivated acts of animosity and dishonesty.

The administration of President Joseph Biden has stated publicly that although Cuba is not a priority issue, a review process of the policy toward our country is underway.

If Cuba is not a priority and this review has not been concluded, how can the State Department explain the unfounded and fallacious singling out of our country with respect to the issue of terrorism; how can it justify maintaining the 243 unilateral coercive measures adopted by the Trump administration, which include increased financial persecution and other measures of an extraterritorial nature?

The Secretary of State should acknowledge that it has been U.S. authorities who have refused to cooperate with Cuba in confronting terrorism, a duly documented fact. The U.S. government has never returned to our country a single fugitives from Cuban justice, nor have any ever been prosecuted for the crimes and terrorist acts committed against our people and citizens of other countries.

The inclusion of Cuba on the list of countries which “do not fully cooperate” with U.S. efforts against terrorism is an irresponsible and shameful act.

Cuba will not alter its commitment to peace and will continue its efforts in the struggle against terrorism.

Havana, May 27, 2021.

Rodríguez, also a member of the Party Political Bureau, recalled that the pandemic has exacerbated the serious problems and challenges humanity faces, and has revealed new threats, including the fragility of health systems, emphasizing, “The promotion, protection and respect for the right to health acquire special relevance in this context.”

He noted, “In Cuba, the existence of a free, quality universal public health system guarantees the right to health for all Cubans,” and although this reality has not entirely prevented lamentable loss of lives, it has allowed us to confront the pandemic and achieve positive results.

Referring to Cuba’s medical development, Rodriguez pointed out, “Today we have four anti- COVID candidate vaccines in different phases of clinical trials, thanks to the development of Cuban science and the selfless work of our scientists. We expect to immunize the entire Cuban population this year.”

Rodriguez continued his remarks noting that the pandemic has triggered a serious economic and social crisis. “Inequalities, hunger and discrimination are growing exponentially, in a world already burdened by an unjust and undemocratic international order and by the implementation of ruthless neoliberal policies that impact the most vulnerable with even greater force, making their most basic rights impossible dreams,” he stated.

He recalled that ten of the richest nations in the West are monopolizing means to fight the disease, purchasing 95% of the anti- COVID vaccines produced on the planet, according to data provided by the World Health Organization in January.

“Prioritizing personal interests over the general welfare will increase suffering and deaths, even in industrialized countries.”

Rodriguez pointed out that Cuba, from the very beginning of the pandemic, has shared its experience in confronting epidemics, and sent 56 medical brigades from the Henry Reeve International Contingent to 40 countries and territories to confront the new coronavirus.

“Politically motivated, slanderous campaigns against this cooperation will go unheard in the world’s nations, which can always count on the solidarity, altruism and humanism of Cuban health professionals,” he stated.

“We continue to advance in the construction of an independent, sovereign, socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable nation, based on the proven resilience and creativity of our people, in spite of the cruel economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S., tightened to an extreme level by the outgoing administration of President Donald Trump. The most recent example was the inclusion of Cuba on the spurious unilateral list of state sponsors of terrorism,” he said.

Speaking during the virtual meeting of the Human Rights Council, composed of 47 member states including Cuba, Rodriguez reaffirmed that although some attempt to distort Cuba’s reality and subvert our constitutional order, “We will continue with firm steps, perfecting our economic and social development model, and strengthening our legal-institutional framework for the protection and promotion of all human rights for all, guided by the new Constitution of the Republic.”

Since its establishment in November of 2019, the National Program against Racism and Racial Discrimination is working to combat and eliminate any vestige of such behaviors.

Also adopted as a government program, in the same month of 2020, the National Plan for the Advancement of Women was launched, to continue promoting the advancement of Cuban women, beyond the remarkable achievements made by the country in terms of gender equality.

He stated that Cuba has given irrefutable proof of its firm commitment to the promotion and protection of the human rights of its people and other peoples of the world. The manipulation of this noble cause for perverse political interests is unacceptable.

“In the face of attempts to defame the nation and overshadow our indisputable achievements in the field of human rights, we will defend the truth and never renounce our sovereignty and independence,” he asserted.

He reiterated that Cuba, as a member country of the Human Rights Council, will speak with its own voice, defending respectful and constructive dialogue, as opposed to punitive approaches, political manipulation and selectivity; and assured that the Cuban government will continue to honor its commitment to cooperate with all human rights mechanisms of universal application.

The Foreign Minister concluded insisting that the peoples of the world demand deeds, not words; solutions, not promises. They deserve a dignified life and a better world, which is possible. “We can only move forward if we put a global and united response to the challenges imposed on us above our differences.”

(Taken from Granma)

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)

The principle establishes that the entire Chinese nation, including the island of Taiwan, is a single country with a legitimate government and capital in Beijing. Respect for this government is a basic requirement for maintaining diplomatic relations with China.

Beijing has repeatedly criticized the United States for its interactions with Taiwan and the sale of arms to the island’s separatist government. This conduct continues despite the fact that the One China principle was endorsed in joint communiqués signed by China and the United States in 1972, 1978 and 1982.

In 1971, with 170 votes in the General Assembly, the international community approved a resolution recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of the nation before the United Nations, with Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory.

Prensa Latina points out that in order to advance towards the complete reunification of China’s national territory, Beijing defends the policy of One Country, Two Systems, implemented in the administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

Cuba also condemned interference in China’s internal affairs with a statement from the Foreign Ministry, in September of 2019, rejecting attempts to violate the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, in the wake of violent demonstrations and acts of vandalism in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, promoted from abroad and intended to affect the political, economic and social order of the nation, and generate insecurity.

(Taken from Granma)

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Monday condemned Western countries’ interference in Russia’s internal affairs and reaffirmed his solidarity with Russian authorities.

The Cuban foreign minister posted his statement on his Twitter account.

Russia denounced the provocation orchestrated by the West, particularly the United States, after supporting protests organized by followers of opposition blogger Alexei Navalni, prosecuted in two court cases, in several cities of the country.

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the publication by the US Embassy of a list of Russian cities with the route of the demonstrations is an act of interference in the internal affairs of the country.

For her part, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented that an action of open interference like this, if it had been done in Washington, would already be the reason for a great scandal, sanctions against Russia, expulsion of its diplomats and other measures.

US Embassy’s officials should respond with arguments their decision to participate in the provocation against public order in Russia, the spokeswoman said.

According to Moscow media, some 4,000 people staged a rally in that capital, and in some places the number of Western journalists almost exceeded that figure.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)