La combinaison de deux doses du candidat-vaccin Soberana 02 et d’une dose de Soberana Plus dans le schéma de 0-28-56 jours a démontré une efficacité de 91,2 %, a annoncé le Docteur en sciences Vicente Vérez Bencomo, directeur de l’Institut Finlay des vaccins (IFV), lors de la réunion de jeudi Groupe temporaire de travail du gouvernement pour la prévention et le contrôle de la COVID-19.

Le Premier secrétaire du Parti communiste de Cuba et président de la République, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, a félicité l’IFV et les autres institutions qui ont participé à la mise au point de Soberana, « un résultat qui témoigne de l’effort de nos scientifiques ».

Vérez Bencomo a rappelé que l’annonce de l’efficacité du schéma Soberana 02 et Soberana Plus intervient exactement 415 jours (ou 59 semaines) après la rencontre du président de la République, au Centre des neurosciences de Cuba (Cneuro), avec un groupe de scientifiques et de chercheurs, où il leur avait demandé de travailler à l’obtention d’obtenir un vaccin cubain contre le virus SARS-CoV-2.

À propos de cette réunion, il y a quelques semaines, au Centre de génie génétique et de biotechnologie (lorsque l’efficacité de 92,28 % du candidat-vaccin Abdala avait été annoncée à son personnel), le Premier secrétaire du Parti lui-même avait révélé qu’il avait formulé cette demande avec la conviction que les scientifiques cubains était capables de réaliser cet exploit.

Il était indispensable pour nous – avait souligné Diaz-Canel à l’époque – de disposer de nos propres vaccins pour être souverains dans la lutte contre la COVID-19, car « les pays pauvres n’allaient pas pouvoir disposer en peu de temps des vaccins que le monde riche produisait pour donner la priorité aux plus riches ».

Vérez Bencomo a précisé que l’efficacité de 91,2 % du schéma Soberana fait référence à sa capacité à prévenir la maladie symptomatique de la COVID-19 chez les personnes immunisées.

Il a rappelé que le résultat a été validé lors de la phase 3 de l’essai clinique mené dans huit municipalités de La Havane, précisément au moment où la souche initialement détectée en Afrique du Sud (la Beta), « considérée comme ‘la bête’ en termes de contournement des vaccins contre le SRAS-CoV-2 » circulait massivement dans la capitale.

Toutefois, les caractéristiques de la souche Beta ne sont toutefois pas les mêmes que celles de la souche détectée en Inde (la souche Delta) qui, selon le responsable de l’IFV, est hautement transmissible, mais beaucoup plus sensible aux vaccins.
Jeudi après-midi, les dirigeants et personnel de l’Institut du vaccin Finlay se sont réunis dans les locaux du centre pour célébrer ces résultats qui font la fierté du pays.
Photo: Studios Revolution

Comme l’a souligné le Dr Vérez Bencomo lors de la précédente réunion avec les dirigeants du pays, les scientifiques de l’IFV sont à mi-chemin ; « nous avons encore un long chemin à parcourir et nous n’aurons de cesse de travailler tant que toute la population ne sera pas immunisée par des vaccins cubains », a-t-il souligné.

La réunion du Groupe temporaire de travail du gouvernement pour la prévention et le contrôle de la COVID-19, s’est déroulée en présence du Premier ministre, Manuel Marrero Cruz, du Vice-président de la République, Salvador Valdés Mesa, et de Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secrétaire de l’Organisation et de la Politique des cadres du Comité Central du Parti Communiste de Cuba.

Aucun territoire n’est seul dans ce combat qui concerne tout le monde, a écrit le 6 juillet sur son compte Twitter, le Premier secrétaire du Comité central du Parti et président de la République, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, en annonçant l’envoi de l’aide professionnelle à cette province, qui s’efforce d’étendre ses capacités hospitalières et à réorganiser les services de santé.

Lors d’une réunion présidée par le Premier ministre Manuel Marrero Cruz, il a été signalé que le groupe est composé de 18 médecins et d’un nombre égal de personnel infirmier, qui soutiendront le travail dans la municipalité de Cardenas.

José Angel Portal Miranda, ministre de la Santé publique, a déclaré que, dans le cadre de l’assistance, un contingent de 200 médecins et infirmiers d’autres provinces du pays, ayant l’expérience du travail dans des conditions difficiles dans diverses régions de la planète, rejoindra le groupe le 7 juillet.

Par ailleurs, 300 jeunes, qui ont terminé leur sixième année de sciences médicales, ont accepté d’avancer leur incorporation au travail, afin de renforcer le service médical. « Nous devons accompagner ces jeunes et prendre bien soin d’eux, car ils synthétisent la grandeur de notre jeunesse », a déclaré Marrero Cruz.

En outre, une équipe de 27 cadres et spécialistes, coordonnée par Joel Queipo Ruiz, membre du Secrétariat du Comité central du Parti et Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, vice-premier ministre, se trouve dans la province pour apporter leur aide.

Portal Miranda a rappelé que la situation sanitaire à Matanzas reste tendue, avec 1 289 suspects en moyenne chaque jour, 5 600 cas actifs et le taux d’incidence le plus élevé du pays.

« Nous sommes conscients du travail soutenu qui s’effectue ici, mais nous devons faire plus d’efforts et prendre des mesures fermes pour ne pas reculer dans la lutte contre la COVID-19 », a conclu le Premier ministre.

(Source: Granma)

In fact, President Salvador Sanchez Ceren acknowledged days ago, declaring San Salvador as the third Central American capital completely literate, that the support of Cuba has been key in this educational crusade.

‘Our gratitude also to the people and government of Cuba, to the Cuban educational brigade for its contribution to the National Literacy Program,’ said the head of state before a crowd gathered in the capital Plaza Barrios.

Sanchez Ceren highlighted the application here of the Cuban program ‘Yo, Sí Puedo’ (Yes I Can), whose effectiveness in various countries has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The declaration of Santa Clara as the 100th illiteracy free city in El Salvador is scheduled for next week, where more than 300,000 people have been literate from 2009 until now.

‘When we started the National Literacy Program we knew that we could fulfill this unpostponable task, because we always trust in the strength of the people and youth, and we had the support and experience of the Republic of Cuba,’ the president added.

The Minister of Education, Carlos Canjura, presided on Wednesday the declaration of the municipality of El Carmen, whose inhabitants now enjoy a human right that transcends the ability to read, write and perform basic calculations.

According to official figures, some 11,000 volunteers are educating in rural and urban areas almost 24,000 Salvadorans older than 15 years of age, through classrooms operating in 160 of the 262 municipalities of El Salvador.

(Prensa Latina)

The announcement of the Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama, on 17 December, to work according to the bilateral approach opened a new era between the two countries, waiting step to reach the normalization of ties.

What we have done in these last four months can be considered an improvement, said to Cuban journalists here the head of the delegation of the island to Havana-Washington talks to restore diplomatic ties, Josefina Vidal.

Since 22 January, teams of both nations hold meetings to clear the way for the opening of embassies and normal operation, in line with the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963, governing diplomatic and consular relations.

The day before, the parties concluded at the State Department a meeting devoted to the issue, and agreed to continue contacts to achieve the goals set by the leaders.

Every time we talked we progress, and we are much closer to the restoration of ties, agreed the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson, who heads the US delegation.

Jacobson described as highly productive talks held over two days in the US capital and welcomed the commitment shown by both groups responsible for driving the process.

THE PROGRESS

According to Vidal, progress is palpable, ‘because when we started talking in Cuba in January range of topics debated was much broader. ”

The exclusion of our country from the list of sponsors of terrorism, and the need to solve the banking situation Session Interests Section in Washington are solved or close to its solution issues, she said.

Sources close to the talks to resume some broken links in 1961, by decision of the White House, say that advances are also important in the particular the referred to the embassy once opened and behavior of its staff in line with international instruments.

The reciprocal movement restrictions applicable to diplomats from both countries have occupied space in the contacts, especially from the US claim of greater freedoms within the island.

In this regard, Cuba emphasizes the need to reopen embassies under strict adherence to the Vienna Conventions, which means that American diplomats stop fomenting internal subversion, destabilization programs covered labeled under the label of ‘the people contacts people ‘.

The basis of our discussions on the subject is the application of the Vienna Conventions, an area in which there is also progress, Jacobson said.

However, it appears that any matter relating to the functioning of diplomatic missions hinders the realization of restoring ties and opening them, but the parties rule out going into details.

Both Vidal as Jacobson forward to the next contact address this issue, but without clarifying whether it will be through a new round of talks, or by the agreed channels for the exchange of ideas and opinions.

Public meetings are not the only way to talk, you cannot think that just talk when we are, we maintain a fluid communication, said the director general of the United States office of the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

DIALOGUE AMONG EQUALS

The dialogue between equal and reciprocal treatment explain the progress made by Cuba and the United States at meetings to restore ties.

“We’ve gotten to this point because we treat them as equals,” said Vidal, who added that both nations have learned to speak, despite the differences, many deep said.

We talked with professionalism and respect, without appreciating our counterpart manifestations present still in the rhetorical level, it takes time to change, he said.

The Cuban official said that Washington is still listening phrases ‘that remind us of where we come from, the policy is still in place,’ but that scenario is apparently absent from the talks.

Jacobson also stressed the importance of addressing differences through constructive dialogue, banishing isolation.

TECHNICAL MEETINGS

Another sign of the new scenario are the increasingly frequent meetings at technical level to discuss matters of mutual interest, key to normalizing ties, but for this to happen the island demands the cessation of the blockade, returning the occupied territory of Guantánamo the naval base and an end to illegal radio and television and the destabilization plans.

In that sense, Vidal noted the holding of meetings on immigration fraud, civil aviation, human trafficking, human rights, marine protected areas, hydrography, nautical charts and research on marine species.

Soon we will begin to address issues of health and implementation and enforcement of the law, she announced.

The approach on issues of interest to both countries occurs in parallel to the process, to restore diplomatic relations and open embassies in the respective capitals.

Technical meetings are marching properly, has been boosted since the December 17 discussion of issues already on the agenda, while new areas have been opened, Vidal said.

(Prensa Latina)

In interview to Prensa Latina he assured that the beatification is part of a framework of motivations, historical relations, elements of what the Salvadorian government tries to do and of great connotation for the country, Latin America and the world.

From this ceremony-he said- many interpretations con be made because first is the figure of Monsignor Romero, a paradigm in the struggle for peace and the defense of the poor, with very human ideas he defended from an altruistic position and therefore left a legacy. That legacy matches with that of other heroes for the independence, emphasized the Cuban vice president.

‘I think that justice is done when the moment for the beatification of Monsignor Romero comes, he remarked.

He considered that if this event is brought to the level of Cuba and El Salvador relations stands that there are two brother countries who forged a brotherhood and precisely a friendship to share the same struggle for independence.

The beatification has a great significance at this moment, mainly because El Salvador and Cuba face the same historical challenges with the conviction that a better world can be possible, he added.

‘Besides participating in this event carrying a pleasant and warm greeting of Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro, of our president, Army general, Raul Castro and from the Cuban people to the Salvadorian people and government, we, I also feel honored to be representing our country and the Cuban revolution, added ‘Diaz-Canel.

He stressed that this whole context has much to do with the meetings held yesterday with the president, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, and Vice President, Oscar Ortiz, who received him at the Presidential House.

On the other hand, being part of it, there are the possibilities and capabilities of Cuba to cooperate and provide the experience gained in these years of revolution, he explained.

For that reason, he added we came to confirm that they can count on the unconditional support of Cuba in programs, agreements and actions that have worked very intensively with many exchanges at the political level, which now also takes a path to a commercial, economically relationship more stronger and more open.

He stressed that the relationship will be in its peak with the visit of President Sanchez Ceren to Cuba soon, where, he said, he will be welcome in an affectionately and with the love that has always been professed by the Cuban government and people.

Besides being very motivating visit for seeing the affection with which the Cubans are taken into account, also is to live a historic moment in the life of the country and provide a grain cooperation between Cuba and El Salvador, he assured.

Diaz-Canel arrived in El Salvador on Friday afternoon, accompanied by the head of the Office of Attention to Religious Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Caridad Diego, and Deputy Foreign Minister, Rogelio Sierra.

(Prensa Latina)

The Cuban delegation was led by the Ministry of Foreign Relations’ General Director for the United States, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, and the U.S. delegation by the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Western Hemispheric Affairs, Roberta S. Jacobson.

Cuba’s representatives recognized the just decision made by President Obama to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, on which the country should never have been placed.

These talks took place after the U.S. government, in compliance with its obligations established by international law in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, awarded a license to a bank to resume the provision of banking services to the Cuban Interests Section in Washington. Such a license is required by the financial blockade which remains in effect.

Both delegations agreed to continue the dialogue on aspects related to the functioning of diplomatic missions.

During the round of talks, the Cuban delegation reaffirmed its willingness to address substantive issues on the bilateral agenda, including among others, ending the blockade, which would allow for progress toward normalization of the relations between Cuban and the United States on a foundation of respect, sovereign equality and reciprocity, once diplomatic relations are reestablished.

The meeting was conducted in a respectful and professional environment.

(Granma)

The meeting held yesterday at the headquarters of the Department of State went on another day, reinforcing in sectors informed of the process, predictions of concrete accords on the resumption of the broken ties more than 50 years ago, by a Washington’s decision, and the opening of embassies in both capitals. After about seven hours of talks yesterday, the two sides issued brief statements and talked of the continuity of exchanges of criteria, led as in the previous meetings by diplomats Josefina Vidal and Roberta Jacobson.

Vidal is the director general of the United States department at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Jacobson, the assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Yuri Gala, member of the island’s delegation, told the Cuban press accredited to cover the talks that progress was made.

Several factors boost expectations that this new round conducts to announcements as those expected since the decision to begin the approach, stated on December 17, 2014 by Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama.

Cuban and U.S. officials have discussed in recent days with optimism the ongoing process, in addition of the activated procedure by Obama to exclude the island from the list of countries that, according to Washington, sponsor terrorism.

They also analyzed the solution to the problem of lack of banking services for the Havana Interests Section in Washington. It is expected that during yesterday’s talks, both delegations have dealt with one of the most controversial issues of the dialogue, the behavior of the diplomatic staff prior to the respect of principles and standards reflected in the Vienna Conventions.

Washington demands freedom of movement for its officials, while the Caribbean island, whose representatives have the same restrictions, demands the end of encourage to subversion by that staff and the compliance with international behavior rules.

Such behaviors should be committed to sovereignty of the states and non-interference in their internal affairs, Havana states.

For Cuba, the restoration of relations and the opening of embassies would be an important step, but not the normalization of ties.

According to the island’s authorities, such normalization includes the end of the U.S. blockade, the return of the territory of the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo, and the end of the objective of regime change.

A new element to feed optimism and at the same time caution was the statements by the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, to Cuban journalists present here, who yesterday went to the headquarters of the U.S. executive power.

The spokesman stated that Obama “would give much pleasure to travel to the island, particularly Havana,” and stressed the potentialities of the Cuban market for the products of his country.

However, he reiterated Washington’s purpose to achieve “the change we would like to see in Cuba,” as well as the traditional accusations regarding human rights.

(Prensa Latina)

Leaders of the coalition addressed Cuba Engage with Cuban journalists accredited here to cover a new round of dialogue between Havana and Washington on restoring links diplomats, the current context and perspectives about ties to leave behind decades of hostility of House Blanca to the island.

According to the chief adviser of the nonprofit organization, Luke Albee, the issue of the Greater Antilles will be among those included in the process ahead of the 2016 elections presidencies in the United States.

We see the position of some Republican candidates, but we also appreciate that Americans are in favor of change with the island, said in response to a question from Prensa Latina this political consultant, who accumulated 27 years of experience in the actions of Congress.

18 months away of the elections, the party Red applicants to the White House Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz harshly criticized the decision of President Barack Obama to seek normalization of relations with the Caribbean country.

There are a few stubborn voices, but is much larger group that supports the change, said for his part James Williams, president of Engage Cuba, to be officially launched on June 16 to promote from American society a position in Congress of friendly approach, prioritizing the removal of the ban on travel and trade imposed by Washington.

Both activists agreed on the importance of harnessing the positive context created in recent months, following the announcement on 17 December by the Presidents Raul Castro and Obama to boost ties in the future are difficult to reverse.

This opportunity should not be lost, the more you progress in bilateral relations, the harder it is to return them to the past, Williams estimated.

The facts on the ground speak louder than anything, said Albee.

Since the decision to initiate the approach, the parties focused their efforts on restoring diplomatic ties and reopening embassies, objectives that seem close to materialize, after progress in the exclusion of Cuba from the unilateral sponsors of terrorism list and access Interests Section in Washington Island to banking services.

In parallel, both parts held several meetings on issues of mutual interest, such as migration, telecommunications, postal mail, technologies of information, the response to oil spills in the Gulf and scientific affairs.

Also in response to Prensa Latina during a meeting with Cuban journalists here, academic and analyst Julia Sweig US policy advocated to seize the next 18 months to help strengthen the approach.

It is capitalizing on that moment in the political, economic and diplomatic, to make it very difficult for the next president, Republican or not, reverse the steps initiated by Obama, said yesterday Sweig, former Director of Studies for Latin America think tank Council on Foreign Relations.

She said that since the issue of public opinion are favorable positions to shift to the island, nothing easy to minimize.

“While more Americans traveling to Cuba, the less likely the reversal, we see that it is almost impossible to search a room in a hotel there,’ added the author of two books on Cuba and its relations with the powerful neighbor.

In terms of economics, I think it’s very important for the two countries to seek success in this area, translated into opportunities for investment, trade and exports and imports in both directions, Sweig said.

(Prensa Latina)

Nikolic awarded Fidel the Order of the Republic of Serbia. The visiting President reported that upon receiving the honorary sash, Fidel commented that he would treasure it always.

According to Serbia’s official gazette, Fidel received the decoration in recognition of “his exceptional merits in developing and strengthening the relationship of friendship and cooperation shared by the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Cuba.”

“I have fulfilled my dream of meeting Comandante Fidel,” Nikolic said upon concluding his official visit yesterday, May 20. Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra bid the distinguished guest farewell at Havana’s José Martí International Airport.

(Granma)

Lénine, un stratège révolutionnaire génial, n’hésita pas à reprendre les idées de Marx et à les concrétiser dans un pays immense, à peine industrialisé, où le parti prolétarien fut le plus radical et le plus audacieux de la planète au terme de la pire tuerie que le capitalisme eût commis dans le monde, dans le cadre d’une guerre où les chars, les armes automatiques, l’aviation et les gaz asphyxiants furent utilisés pour la première fois, et jusqu’à un fameux canon capable de tirer un projectile lourd à plus de cent kilomètres.

C’est de cette tuerie que naquit la Société des nations, qui devait censément préserver la paix et qui ne parvint même pas à empêcher la progression accélérée du colonialisme en Afrique, dans une bonne partie de l’Asie, en Océanie, dans les Caraïbes, au Canada, et l’instauration d’un néo-colonialisme rudimentaire en Amérique latine.

À peine vingt ans après, une épouvantable guerre mondiale éclatait de nouveau en Europe, avec, en guise de préambule, la Guerre civile espagnole déclenchée en 1936. Après l’écrasante défaite des nazis, les États placèrent leurs espoirs dans l’Organisation des Nations Unies qui s’efforce de promouvoir une coopération qui mette fin aux agressions et aux guerres, dans un monde où il serait possible de préserver la paix, le développement et la coopération pacifique entre les États de notre planète, qu’ils soient grands ou petits, qu’ils soient riches ou pauvres.
Des millions d’hommes de science pourraient, entre autres tâches, accroître les possibilités de survie de l’espèce humaine, d’ores et déjà menacée par une pénurie d’eau et d’aliments qui touchera dans très peu de temps des milliards de personnes.

Nous sommes déjà 7,3 milliards sur cette planète. Nous n’étions que 978 millions en 1800 ; nous étions 6,07 milliards en 2000, et, selon des calculs prudents, nous serons dix milliards en 2050.

C’est à peine si on parle, bien entendu, des vagues d’émigrants qui arrivent en Europe de l’Ouest à bord d’embarcations surchargées ou sur n’importe quel objet flottant, en provenance du continent africain que les Européens ont colonisé pendant des siècles.

Voilà vingt-trois ans, j’ai affirmé à un Sommet des Nations Unies sur l’environnement et le développement : « Une importante espèce biologique est menacée de disparition à cause de la liquidation rapide et progressive de ses conditions de vie naturelles : l’homme. » Je ne savais pas alors, toutefois, à quel point nous en étions près.

En ce soixante-dixième anniversaire de sa victoire durant la Grande Guerre patriotique, je tiens à exprimer ma profonde admiration au peuple soviétique qui, par son héroïsme, a rendu un service colossal à l’humanité.

On assiste aujourd’hui à une solide alliance entre les peuples de la Fédération de Russie et du pays qui enregistre la croissance économique la plus rapide au monde, la République populaire de Chine. Par leur coopération étroite, leur science de pointe, leurs armées puissantes constituées de soldats courageux, ces deux pays constituent un bouclier puissant de la paix et de la sécurité mondiales, ainsi que de la préservation de notre espèce sur notre planète.

La santé physique et mentale, et l’esprit de solidarité sont des normes qui doivent prévaloir, sinon l’être humain, tel que nous le connaissons, n’aura pas d’avenir.
Les vingt-sept millions de Soviétiques morts durant la Grande Guerre patriotique ont aussi versé leur sang dans l’intérêt de l’humanité et du droit à penser en socialistes et à être socialistes, à être marxistes-léninistes, à être communistes, et à sortir de la préhistoire.

Fidel Castro Ruz
7 mai 2015
22 h 14