Lifting the Blockade, the U.S. Best Possible Deal with Cuba.

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#Blockade, #Cuba # Latin America, #EU, #Human rights, #Politics United States, #Trum

Washington, Jun 23 (Prensa Latina) If U.S. President Donald Trump wants a ”better deal” with Cuba, he should continue the rapprochement and lift all aspects of the blockade, the journalist and activist Cheryl LaBash said here.

 

LaBash, who promotes ties with Cuba and is the co-president of the National Network on Cuba in the United States (NNOC) referred in those terms to the decision by the Republican president to reverse aspects of the U.S. opening policy on Cuba started by the previous administration.

Trump said a week ago in Miami, Florida, that his executive order to restrict U.S. citizens’ travels to Cuba further and to limit trade and business was seeking a ‘better deal’ for the Cuban people and for the United States.

However, in an interview with Prensa Latina, LaBash noted that if the president really wanted that, he should not only keep the rapprochement with Cuba but also eliminate all aspects of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington for 55 years.

‘How is the continuation of the blockade a better deal for farmers who grow black beans in Michigan, or for milk producers in Pennsylvania?’ She wondered.

‘How is it a better deal for dozens of thousands of Americans whom are denied Cuba’s treatment against diabetic foot ulcers that can prevent 70 percent of amputations?’ The Cuba solidarity activist added.

For Cuba, the best deal is that the blockade and regime change programs come to an end, that the country’s self-determination and autonomy are recognized and that its people are allowed to decide the socialist forms and their future, she pointed out.

According to the NNOC co-president, Trump’s speech and the executive order signed on June 16 are full of contrasts with reality.

It is an insult and a farce for a U.S. president to punish Cuba for human rights, she noted.

Italian Senator Criticizes US Policy Towards Cuba.

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#Cuba, #Italy-Cuba relations, #Politics United States, Italian Senator Criticizes US Policy, Trump

 (P L) Senator of the ruling Democratic Party, Daniela Valentini, today described as irresponsible the policy raised by U.S. President Donald Trump on Cuba.

‘What Trump is doing causes serious damage to the whole world, Europe, Cuba and the United States,’ the lawmaker told Prensa Latina.

This is a serious damage, because this is an irresponsible policy that does not know how to unite and embrace the universal values of democracy, the right of the peoples to live their own lives, in their countries and in the way they decide, she said.

Referring to the recent anti-Cuban measures announced by Trump in Miami, Valentini stated that ‘I fell very badly because I set up the Intergroup of Cuban friends in the Senate, we worked hard when (President Barack) Obama was the president, to whom we admire for his courage after breaking that prison, that wall.’

As for new actions of friends of the island in the Italian Senate, she stated that they submitted a motion which will try to be approved and if they do, they will do the same in the European Parliament to ask you take a stand against Trump.

While US Continues Blockade, Cuba Forges Global Ties with Europe, China, and Vietnam.

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#China, #Europe, Caribbean, Cuba-US Relations, Trade

The U.S.’s blockade looks to cripple Cuba economically, but with the Caribbean nation building strong global ties, that may prove difficult.

While the United States government insists on maintaining their blockade, Cuba has continued to build strong diplomatic and economic links with the rest of the world. In only one week following Donald Trump’s rollback of efforts to normalize U.S.-Cuba relations, the Caribean island is moving forward with the process of building groundbreaking ties with the European Union, as well as strengthening the bond with its historic allies China and Vietnam.

RELATED:
Iran Slams ‘Useless’ US Blockade Policy, Stands with Cuba

In a major move this week, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament voted to approve the first agreement of bilateral cooperation between the EU and Cuba, after several decades of contingent relations imposed by the EU. The agreement is set to be put to a final vote by Parliament in July.

“Now that Trump wants to isolate Cuba again, the EU must make the most of this opportunity to get closer to the island,” Elena Valenciano, the member who submitted the proposal said.

South African Unions Condemn Trump Statements on Cuba.

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#Cuba # Latin America, #Cuba -South africa, #Politics United States

Pretoria, Jun 22 (Prensa Latina) South African Congress Union (Cosatu) denounced today recent statements by US president Donald Trump against Cuba, which it described as an affront to the sovereign right of that people to freely elect its way towards development and progress.

In a statement in this capital, Cosatu expressed its strong solidarity with the Cuban people and support for its sovereign right to a system that has proven to help the poor, exposed the failures of capitalism in social justice and has developed a progressive Internationalism that helps human development and the struggle of peoples and the working class.

Iran Slams ‘Useless’ US Blockade Policy, Stands with Cuba.

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#Cuba, #Imperialism, Cuba-US Relations, Iran

Qasemi reiterated that Tehran’s stance “is based on supporting the sovereign nations of the world, including Cuba.”

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s rollback of normalizing relations with Cuba last week, Iran has become the latest country to stand with the Caribbean island and its socialist government.

RELATED: 
Russia Affirms Solidarity with Cuba, Laments US ‘Cold War’ Rhetoric

Calling Trump’s renewed sanctions “erroneous,” “useless” and “coercive,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Qasemi recalled the “black history” of U.S. leaders in their imposition of restrictions on “independent nations.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects the new restrictions on Cuba and deeply believes that the global experience has proven the ineffectiveness of sanctions as a means of pressure against sovereign nations to weaken their determination,” he stated

Russia: Trump’s Rhetoric on Cuba Withdraws to Cold War Era.

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# EU - Trump, #Cold War, #Cuba, #Cuba and US relations, #Latin America, Russia

(P L) The new policy on Cuba announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, takes us back to the forgotten rhetoric ”Cold War” style, denounced today the Russian foreign ministry in an official communique.

This approach has characterized U.S. attitude to Cuba for decades, recalls the refered Independence.

When the Barack Obama administration made modifications to the policy being applied to the island, we considered that more than a demonstration of good will of some, it was a reflection of the failure of the policy of imposition and sanctions against this small liberty-loving country, it stresses.

The Foreign Ministry considered it was not a kind of ‘deal’, but a well-thought political decision that had no losers, except for the marginal anti-Castros, it highlights.

Declaration of the Revolutionary Government.

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#Cuba, #Politics United States, #Trum, Declaration

Havana, Cuba, Jun 16 (ACN)  On June 16th, 2017, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in a speech full of hostile rhetoric, that recalled the times of open confrontation against our country, announced in a theater in Miami its government’s policy towards Cuba which reverts advances in the last two years after December 17th of 2014 by Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama announcing the decision of reestablishing diplomatic relations and began a process towards the normalization of bilateral ties.

In what constitutes a fall back in relations between the two countries, Trump gave a speech and signed a policy directive entitled “Presidential Memorandum of National Security on the Tightening of the Policy of the United States Towards Cuba”, disposing the elimination of the educational ¨people to people¨ exchanges to individuals and major control of US travelers to Cuba in addition to prohibiting economic, commercial and financial transactions of US companies with their Cuban counterparts tied with the Revolutionary Armed Forces and intelligence and security services, with the objective of depriving them of earnings. The US President justified the policy with alleged concerns on the human rights situation in Cuba and the need to strictly apply the laws of the blockade, conditioning its lifting if our country carries out inherent changes to its constitutional order.

Trump repealed the Presidential Directive of the policy of “Normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba”, issued by President Obama on October 14th 2016, of which, although, it did not hide the interference character of the US policy, nor the objective of advancing its interests in acquiring changes in the economic, political and social order of our country, had recognized the independence, sovereignty and self-determination of Cuba and the Cuban government like a legitimate and equal speaker, as well as the benefits reported by both countries and peoples in a civilized relationship within the great differences between both governments.  He also admitted that the blockade was an obsolete policy that had to be eliminated.

The Government of the United States once again has resorted to coercive methods of the past, adopting measures to reinforce the blockade valid since February of 1962, which not only inflicted damages and deprivation to the Cuban people and constitutes undeniable obstacles to the development of our economy, but also affects the sovereignty and interests of other countries, promoting international condemnation.

The announced measures imposes additional obstacles to the very restricted opportunities that the US business sector had to trade and invest in Cuba.

Despite the blockade imposed by US Cuba, is, continues and will remain ours forever. Fidel between us.

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#Cuba, #Cuba is joy, #Cuba is life, #FIDEL IS FIDEL, #Latin America, Fidel.

Cuba is life, Cuba is sun, Cuba is joy,Cuba is love.

Fidel’s contribution to environmental protection recognized.

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#Cuba, #Environment, Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro’s strong defense of the environment, Fidel.

Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro’s strong defense of the environment and his contribution to tackling the global challenge of climate change were recognized June 5, during the national act to mark World Environment Day

Author: Juan Antonio Borrego | internet@granma.cu

june 6, 2017 10:06:57

Cuba undertakes actions to protect biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems. Photo: Nestor Madruga Sosa

Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro’s strong defense of the environment and his contribution to tackling the global challenge of climate change were recognized June 5, during the national act for World Environment Day.
“It is impossible to celebrate World Environment Day in Cuba without recalling the legacy of Fidel,” stated Elba Rosa Pérez Montoya, a Party Central Committee member and minister of Science, Technology and Environment (Citma), who spoke about the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution’s comprehensive approach to environmental issues, as seen in more than 50 of his public speeches, including his remarks to the Communist Party of Cuba’s 7th Congress.
The minister recalled how, facing an adverse international context and subjected to a cruel blockade by the U.S. government, Cuba has not only made the struggle to save the environment the focus of government policy, but has also worked with other nations in the region on this issue; above all by training human resources to tackle the effects of climate change.
In this regard, Pérez Montoya emphasized comprehensive efforts undertaken in the province of Sancti Spíritus to combat the drought currently affecting the country, reduce water consumption and pollution, and preserve ecosystems.
Comandantes de la Revolución, Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, a member of the Party Political Bureau and a vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers; and Guillermo García Frías, president of the Central State Enterprise Management Organization (OSDE) for the Protection of Flora and Fauna, presided the event in Sancti Spíritus, the third to take place in the province since 2000.
Meanwhile, United Nations resident coordinator and Development Programme representative, Myrta Kaulard, highlighted Cuba’s willingness to undertake actions toward protecting the island’s biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems, preserving the oceans, guaranteeing drinking water for the population, and promoting renewable energy.
Also participating in the act were José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, first Party secretary in Sancti Spíritus; Inés María Chapman Waugh, president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, and Teresita Romero Rodriguez, president of the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power.
Presented during the event were National Environment Awards which went to the Villa Clara based Architecture and Engineering Enterprise; DIMARQ Design and Engineering Enterprise from Ciego de Ávila; as well as to Dr. Luis Joaquín Catasús Guerra and Comandante de la Revolución Ramiro Valdés Menéndez; while the provinces of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus and Ciego de Ávila, were recognized for their outstanding achievements in the field.

Cuba continues efforts to improve water quality

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CUBA, Quality, Supplying water to the population key priority for the Cuban government., Water quality

Supplying water to the population and ensuring necessary quality continue to be key priorities for the Cuban government.

Supplying water to the population and ensuring its quality continue to be key priorities for the Cuban government. Despite the severe drought facing the nation, significant efforts continue to deliver potable water to 8,035,397 Cubans, 25,400 more than in 2015, via the National Water Institute’s (INRH) system of aqueducts.