Institutions, hospitals, markets, shops and private businesses opened their doors as usual today.

There is peace in Cuba despite campaign of hatred and lies typical of media terrorism hype, said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Wednesday.

Díaz-Canel claimed the Cuban people act with courage and with no fear to confront the July 11th destabilization plans.

We call for harmony, unity, responsibility, solidarity and love, he pointed out, in the face of the campaign of lies that includes threats, defamations and instigations to murder orchestrated from social networks.

In the meeting, it was reported that over 7,600,000 Soberana 02, Soberana Plus and Abdala vaccine doeses have been applied; 17% of Cuban people completed the vaccination scheme, while 23.4% has received two doses, and 27.5% has just began treatment.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero assured that the Cuban people will be vaccinated before the end of 2021.

Marrero pointed out that 60% of the country’s inhabitants will be immunized in August, and 80% will start the vaccination scheme by using national drugs.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)

The most recent of these acts occurred August 15 during a demonstration called by the Nicaraguan opposition, when an armed group attacked the national water and sewer company (Enacal), teleSUR reported.

According to a local police communiqué, the suspected terrorists opened gunfire and launched home-made grenades onto Encal wells which supply the population of Managua.

Such attacks are part of an ongoing coup attempt against President Ortega, that has cost the lives of 198 persons, numerous human rights violations, and severe damage to the national economy, National Assembly sources stated.

During the last three months of violence, 252 public and private buildings have been destroyed, as well as 209 kilometers of streets and highways. Some 278 pieces of industrial and construction equipment have been burned, along with

389 vehicles, reported José Santos Figueroa, vice president of the National Assembly standing committee for Production, Economy, and Budget.

“This coup plan is characterized by efforts to interrupt and severely damage peace, security, tranquility, and the right to life of Nicaraguans,” stated Santos, a Sandinista National Liberation Front deputy.

Added to this are export losses valued at 270 million dollars, he pointed out, noting that the economy suffered a 7% deceleration in the rate of deposits and 10.7% in credit awarded to the productive sector. Through July 31, an estimated 68,000 jobs held by Nicaraguans affiliated with the Social Security system were affected.

As a result of the damage, on August 14 the National Assembly approved changes to the national budget for the year, with projected income and expenditures reduced.

Nonetheless, the amended budget guarantees continued funding for efforts to combat poverty, public investment programs, citizen security, and wages for public sector workers, according to Treasury and Public Credit Minister Iván Acosta.

TIMELINE OF A COUP ATTEMPT

- April 18

Some 60 government opponents protest a social security reform implemented by President Daniel Ortega. Three deaths and 37 injuries are reported.

- May 22

Some 76 deaths occur during conflicts. The Government denounces the plot as financed from abroad.

- April 22

Daniel Ortega expresses his willingness to hold talks to resolve the crisis and announces that the social security reform will be revoked. Looting occurs.

- May 23

The dialogue is suspended due to lack of consensus on the agenda: the opposition demands the resignation of Ortega and early elections; while the legitimate Ortega government rejects these demands and denounces the attempted “soft coup.”

- July 7th

Before a demonstration of supporters, Daniel Ortega refuses to hold the 2021 elections early, saying that elections will be conducted as mandated by law.

- May 16

The national dialogue is established, mediated by five bishops from the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN).

- June 16

The Ortega government opens the door to visits by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in order to demonstrate the intentions of those who promote instability from abroad.

- July 13

The opposition calls a second national strike.

- August 15th

The Government of Nicaragua declares unacceptable the presence in the country of a commission from the Organization of American States (OAS) considering it interventionist.

(Prensa Latina)

In an address from Casa de Nariño (seat of the presidency) Santos said that he has already ordered Gustavo Bell, head of the negotiating team of his administration, to travel to Quito in order to resume negotiations.

He said the purpose of such a decision is to negotiation push negotiations ahead and ‘also achieve a new ceasefire agreement, broad and verifiable, that will prevent the loss of more lives as we speak.’

Santos admitted the ELN complied with the unilateral ceasefire that it had promised for the legislative elections.

He added that actions of this nature contribute to rebuilding confidence to advance in the path of dialogue.

At the same time, Santos mentioned the call of the church and several social organizations, as well as the international community, for the Quito meeting to be resumed.

(Prensa Latina)

“We want a United Venezuela, we want a Venezuela in Peace… We want a Venezuela for All. We do not need to raise our voice to say so: Together everything is possible,” the president tweeted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communication and Information, Jorge Rodríguez, noted that “This is an effort of young Venezuelan filmmakers to include those who for decades were excluded, to send a message to Venezuela and the world of inclusion, hope, peace and of permanent dialogue.”

On Saturday the head of state said he had prepared a “surprise” for Venezuelans and invited them to be attentive at 8:55p.m on Sunday, when he posted the video.

(AVN)

(In Spanish) Your Excellency Mr. Raúl Castro Ruz, President of Cuba,
Your Excellency Mr. Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia,
Distinguished Heads of State and government,
Excellencies,
Mr. Timoleón Jiménez,
The honorable Mogens Lykketoft, president of the United Nations General Assembly
The honorable François Delattre, president of the United Nations Security Council
Distinguished members of the diplomatic community and honorable hosts,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning, it is an honor to be with you on this important day for Colombia and for Latin America and the Caribbean.
I am very pleased and grateful to have the opportunity to once again enjoy the hospitality of Cuba.
(In English) On this day, in a world beset by seemingly intractable wars, the peace process in Colombia delivers on a key commitment: an agreement on a ceasefire and the laying down of weapons.
Today the Colombian peace process validates the perseverance of all those around the world who work to end violent conflict not through the destruction of the adversary, but through the patient search for compromise.
I want to express my great admiration for the negotiating teams, which have demonstrated that it is possible to achieve peace with dignity for all concerned. They have overcome tense moments and challenging issues to arrive at an historic achievement.
I also congratulate the Governments of Cuba and Norway, which have devoted considerable diplomatic skills to this peace process. Together with the accompanying countries, Chile and Venezuela, they have shown how national peace efforts can be supported faithfully, discreetly and effectively.
Six months ago, the United Nations Security Council and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC, responded to the call of the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, and made a commitment to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the laying down of weapons.
The signing of this essential component of the peace agreement will strengthen this commitment. It will now be crucial to mobilize the people and resources required for monitoring and verification.
We know that peace talks continue, and that significant issues are still outstanding. But we trust that today’s achievement will provide renewed momentum towards the last phase of the negotiations.
Expectations are now high that the vision articulated in the agreements reached over the past three years will soon become a reality. I strongly encourage you to fulfill these hopes.
We at the United Nations are determined to do everything we can, alongside the Government and the FARC-EP, to translate a remarkable negotiating process into exemplary implementation of the peace commitments made.
In my last year as Secretary-General of the United Nations, it is truly a privilege to participate in this historic event. It is an honor to be by your side in laying the groundwork for lasting peace and a better future for all the country’s people.
Let us now work together so that the promise of peace made today in Havana is fulfilled in Colombia.
Thank you very much. (Applause)

Both sides called the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the government to continue efforts in the discussion of pending issues, including the adoption of an agreement for a definitive bilateral ceasefire and hostilities.

In a joint statement released yesterday at the Conference Center in Havana, the guarantors of the peace process expressed concern about the current intensity of the armed conflict in that South American nation, while regretted the loss of human lives reported in recent days.

Never before since the beginning of the conflict, the Colombians were so near to achieve peace, hence to preserve progresses achieved in the agenda is important.

The intensity of violent actions also jeopardizes the practical efforts to reduce the intensity of the war and increase the confidence such as cleaning and decontamination of the territory of anti-personnel mines, unexploded devices and explosive remnants of war.

(Prensa Latina)

During a 20-minute meeting, the two leaders called for renewing direct talks between Israel and Palestine to find a fair and lasting solution to the more-than-60-year conflict.

Since the mid 20th century, the Palestinian people have suffered the invasion and occupation of their territories by Tel Aviv, as result of which dozens of thousands people have been killed and millions have been displaced.

His Holiness and Abbas wished that with support from the international community, bold decisions can be made in favor of peace, a Vatican statement said.

The two heads of State also expressed satisfaction with the global agreement reached this week between the Vatican and Palestine, which should be signed in a near future and in which the State of Palestine is recognized.

The text, including essential aspects of the life and activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine, supports the establishment of two states as a solution to the long-running conflict.

During the meeting, the two leaders also analyzed the situation in the Middle East and expressed support for inter-religious dialogue as an essential issue in the struggle against terrorism.

The meeting took place one day before the canonization of two Palestinian nuns, in which Pope Francis and Abbas will be present.

(Prensa Latina)

In a statement from the general staff read in this capital by FARC-EP member Marco Leon Calarca, the insurgency said that, on the contrary, both parties are working in search of points for an approach on agricultural issues.

“What some radio stations and other media describe as the first major crisis of the ongoing dialogues between the government and the FARC, is nothing more than another of those virtual media creations, to create nonexistent falsehoods about reality,” Calarca said.

According to the guerrilla, the war events shaking the country and affecting people and interests of the two parties involved in the confrontation, are the vicissitudes of the conflict that the negotiation table is meant to resolve.

“Trying to destroy the way of peace by appealing to those elements is real madness,” he said, while calling “those who describe themselves as patriots and benefactors of the country” to promote the strengthening of the dialogue in an open and positive way.

In recent days, the FARC-EP and the Executive of that South American nation have publicly expressed their differences and launched allegations, which are generating some concern in sectors eager to end decades of confrontation.

The Government attributes to the guerrilla the kidnapping of policemen, while the insurgency warns that these were people captured in combat.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced yesterday that the Defense Ministry was instructed to coordinate with the International Red Cross Committee the release of the two policemen captured by the guerrilla on January 25.

Upon the resumption in Havana of peace talks with the Colombian Executive, guerrilla commander Andres Paris read a press release at the Conference Center about the FARC-EP’s stance on the subject.

Although Agriculture Minister Juan Camilo Restrepo said a few days ago that there will be more regulations on the presence of foreign capital in Colombia, the U.S. multinational corporation Cargill has launched a grain production project involving 90,000 hectares in the department of Meta.

According to the insurgents, agricultural products such as sugar beets and sugarcane are being used to produce ethanol, something which is considered inconsistent with the country’s social problems.

It turns out that now agricultural products are not solving problems of malnutrition and starvation, but the idea of agricultural industry is to generate bio-fuels to supply cars and planes, the FARC-EP said in the text Paris presented to the press.

The document also reflects that “agreements with multinational companies are not meant to feed the 12 percent of the Colombian population suffering from malnutrition, or to prevent 5,000 children from dying of hunger every year in our country; they are designed to fill pockets.”

The guerrilla delegations and the government resumed dialogue today on ending decades of armed conflict, after taking a recess in the talks, in which Cuba and Norway are acting as guarantors. So far, talks have been focused on land and agricultural development, a problem that both sides consider key issues towards achieving a stable and lasting peace.

The parties have returned to the Havana´s International Conference Center, permanent venue of the talks created on November 19, to continue the discussions focused on the issue of land, considered a key factor in this new attempt to end decades of armed conflict.

Among the new features during the break in dialogue, was the reception by the government and the FARC-EP, of the results of the Agricultural Forum held in Bogotá in December to promote the participation of the Colombian society in the peace process.

In December 21,before the holiday break, the delegations issued a joint statement in which they expressed the talks are being held in “an atmosphere of respect and constructive spirit”.

They also noted progress in discussions on the issue of land, the first subject on the agenda set in the General Agreement to end the conflict and build a stable and lasting peace, guiding document of the table.

Since the beginning of the process in which Cuba and Norway act as guarantors, the government and FARC-EP have carried out 21 days and over 100 hours of talks.