United States policy toward Cuba is “a disgrace and a miserable failure,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) in an exclusive interview with Belly of the Beast.
The 13-term Democratic leader of the House of Representatives said he personally asked President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to lift Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, calling it “simply political.”
McGovern called the Cuba embargo a “double standard” given the United States’ extensive trade ties with other communist countries such as China and Vietnam, as well as those with human rights abuses such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
“I want this administration to take some action right now,” McGovern said, citing the immigration crisis on the US-Mexico border and the upcoming vote on a bill to codify Cuba’s terrorist designation into law.
Havana, May 8 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban National Assembly of People’s Power (Parliament) today rejected the certification that this country “does not fully cooperate” with the anti-terrorist efforts of the United States, issued by the US State Department.
The International Relations Commission of the legislative entity strongly condemned the persistence of this accusation which, together with the unfair inclusion of Cuba in the list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism, contributes to further reinforce the criminal economic, financial and commercial blockade that increases the privations of the Cuban people.
The permanence, for political reasons, of the Antillean island on that list – to the detriment of its exemplary performance in this matter – calls into question the supposed commitment of the White House in the fight against this scourge, refers to the pronouncement, published on Tiwtter portal of the Cuban parliament.
The punitive actions resulting from this arbitrary and unjustified measure have caused a significant increase in the number of banks in third countries that, fearing reprisals from the United States Government, have suspended their operations with Cuba, including transfers for food purchases. , medicines, fuel, spare parts for the national energy system and other goods for the population, the document refers to.
The text exemplifies that only in the health sector, it has not been possible to reach the production levels of the basic table of medicines in the country, due to the impossibility of making payments to obtain raw materials and necessary inputs.
The statement adds that the US coercive measures accentuate the difficulties in accessing medical technologies with more than 10% US components, essential for the treatment of our people, and the need to resort to alternative transportation routes with a high cost increases. additional.
The International Relations Committee of the Cuban Parliament reveals the contradiction of the alleged accusation to Cuba that it does not cooperate with the anti-terrorist efforts of the United States, “when there are concrete examples of cooperation between Cuban and United States authorities to confront it within the framework of current bilateral instruments and under international law.”
The pronouncement reiterates the call to the US Congress to listen to the majority sentiment of broad sectors of their society that advocate the end of this policy and promote mutually beneficial ties; on the other, the document urges the parliaments of the world to join the claim.
Havana, May 28 (Prensa Latina) The General Council of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (FMJD) concluded here today, after four days of sessions and activities in public spaces in the capital.
Almost a hundred leaders of the FMJD from 32 countries raised their voices against the United States blockade of the Antillean island and closely felt the creative resistance of their people, the head of the Department of International Relations of the National Committee of the Union of Young Communists (UJC), Mirthia Brossard.
In statements to the Cuban News Agency, Brossard explained that the FMJD approved the action plan for the rest of the year, which will allow the permanent mobilization of that instance in the face of numerous global challenges.
In the final session, held at the Fidel Castro Ruz Center, the members of the planetary youth group once again demanded that the United States government exclude Cuba from the list of alleged sponsors of terrorism and leave the base. illegally occupied military in Guantanamo.
The young people were accompanied at the concluding session of the world event by Ángel Arzuaga Reyes, vice head of the Department of International Relations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and representatives of the National Bureau of the UJC.
The young people, residing in different latitudes, held a caravan in this capital the day before against the blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba and placed a wreath before the bust of the Cuban National Hero, José Martí, in a place in the Antillean capital, between other activities.
This Sunday, May 28, solidarity people who hope that Cuba can develop through its own efforts and without facing the economic blockade imposed by the US government met in various cities around the world.
Day after day, more voices are raised demanding the end of the blockade that affects so many families inside and outside Cuba.
“Puentes de amor” remains at the forefront of solidarity. They show that solidarity cannot be blocked.
Beijing, May 18 (Prensa Latina) China affirmed today that the economic, financial and commercial blockade against Cuba is an example of the diplomatic coercion adopted by the United States, denouncing the damages of this practice throughout the world.
A Foreign Ministry article outlined in three chapters the methods and consequences, especially for developing nations, of Washington’s political, military, economic, technological and cultural actions.
He recalled that the White House imposed the sanctions system against the Caribbean State in 1962, has maintained it since then and also hardened it with other unilateral measures, mainly under the administration of former Republican President Donald Trump.
“The 61-year blockade caused enormous economic damage and humanitarian disasters to Cuba (…) it covers almost everything from fuel, food, daily consumption products to medicines, leaving the island with a severe supply deficit,” the text indicated.
He also denounced the obstacles imposed on Havana even during the Covid-19 pandemic to access necessary materials, drugs, equipment and medical supplies.
Later, the Foreign Ministry mentioned other actions of diplomatic coercion by the United States against Venezuela, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Sudan, Belarus, Russia and China, regardless of the violation of international laws and regulations.
He referred to Washington’s hand behind various color revolutions around the world, the infiltration of its intelligence agencies to overthrow democratically elected governments and the use of military bases to start wars.
In conclusion, he rejected the accusations against China of diplomatic coercion, stressed the country’s adherence to the principle of equality and remarked that it will never threaten others, nor will it form military coalitions or export ideology.
The Foreign Ministry published the article on the eve of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where the group will present a possible condemnation against what it considers economic coercion by Beijing.
Such a position would be included in the final statement of the appointment.
Havana, May 18 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban Institute of Music (ICM) denounced today the harassment against the Buena Fe duo in Spain and the pressure on the owners of the venues that scheduled their tour concerts in that country.
In a press conference from the ICM headquarters in this capital, its president Indira Farjado warned that such events are part of the attempts to block representatives of Cuban culture and artists residing on the Caribbean island abroad.
She pointed out that some media outlets reported the concert held in the Galileo Galilei hall, in Madrid, by Buena Fe, a group that is touring Europe these days.
"It must be noted that it was an excellent concert lasting two hours, within which a provocation conceived in advance occurred that aroused a rejection reaction from the public attending there to enjoy the concert," she explained.
She said that what happened is a direct consequence of the defamation campaign, media aggression and demonization of Cuban artists, orchestrated prior to the performance of the concerts.
"This is demonstrated by haters' social media posts calling for boycotts of performances and throwing excrement at artists," she commented.
She pointed out that from the social network profiles of the group itself, a complaint has been made about media harassment and harassment of the promoters and owners of the concert halls, which led to the suspension of the presentations in Salamanca and Zamora.
Fajardo, on behalf of the Cuban musicians, denounced the abuse and abuse to which Buena Fe is being victimized with impunity by provocateurs, whose speech is amplified by counterrevolutionary digital platforms and media, financed by US federal agencies dedicated to lying about what it happened, he warned.
«All this is the result of hate speech that must have a response from public opinion. It is a real strategy of boycott and media lynching of Cuban artists residing in Cuba," the ICM statement proclaimed.
We challenge this type of attitude against those who have decided to bet on Cuban music, indicated the official of the island's Ministry of Culture.
She also referred to the pressures on the public and local programmers who, sometimes without having large financial resources, maintain the will and the commitment to promote Cuban music abroad.
This attack cannot remain silent because it is a direct attack on Cuban music, she declared.
She recalled that other artists residing in this nation have been attacked and harmed with these calls for boycotts and lynching in Miami, such as Los Van Van, Haila, Alexander Abreu, Pedrito Calvo, Paulito FG, among others. Now cultured and civilized Europe allows this to happen with total impunity, criticized the president of the Cuban Institute of Music.
On May 19, 1895, the National Hero of Cuba was born for posterity: José Martí.
His physical fall in combat, in combat!, removes from his memory any sweetened, and therefore false, interpretation of his revolutionary work, essentially anti-colonialist, as well as anti-imperialist.
With all and for the good of all, it was his founding motto for the independent Cuba for which he gave his life, thought, which, precisely in Martí’s ideas, never meant compromising with apostates and sepoys, but bringing together all good men to serve and give shine to the motherland.
Now, 128 years after his passing to immortality, Martí renews himself in the new generations of Cubans, as he did in the distant 1953 in the youth of the Centennial Generation led by Fidel Castro.
To those who oppose the Revolution and admire this people, how could this people be what it is, if not because of the Revolution?
It was José Martí, the consistent heir of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, of whom he said that “he decided, face to face with an implacable nation, to take away his most unfortunate possession for freedom, like someone who takes the last cub from a tiger”.
Of that founder of the Republic of Cuba in Arms, who once he assumed the presidency in April 1869, expressed: Cuba has contracted, in the act of engaging in the fight against the oppressor, the solemn commitment to consummate its independence or perish in the demand: in the act of giving itself a democratic government, that of being republican. This double commitment, contracted before the independent America, before the liberal world, and what is more, before the own conscience, means the resolution to be heroic and to be virtuous. Cubans: With your heroism I count to consummate independence. With your virtue to consolidate the Republic. You can count on my self-denial».
For a greater historical connection between the two, years later, when he died in combat on May 19, 1895, Martí wore the same cockade or mambisa insignia that had been previously given to Céspedes, after being named President of the Republic in 1869. of Cuba in Arms.
Today as yesterday in this long march of the Cuban revolution with a renewed continuity in each historical stage, heroes, patriots and martyrs can be recognized; also traitors, deserters and pusillanimous.
The Cuban Minister of Finance and Prices, Vladimir Regueiro, rejected this Monday in Santiago de Chile, during a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), the inclusion of the Island in the arbitrary list of countries that sponsor terrorism issued by USA and denounced that it reinforces the consequences of the US blockade.
Speaking at a meeting of Celac Finance Ministers, Regueiro condemned the economic, commercial and financial siege imposed by the United States against Cuba for more than 60 years.
At the meeting, held at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal), the Cuban minister said that the blockade intensified to unprecedented extremes during the covid-19 pandemic, which causes multiple effects on the development aspirations of the country.
Regueiro thanked the solidarity of the region and the pronouncements of Celac to put an end to the policy of unilateral coercive measures that affect the enjoyment of the human rights of the Cuban people.
At the meeting, held in the context of the XXXV Regional Seminar on Fiscal Policy, which is in session for three days organized by ECLAC, authorities from 18 CELAC countries intervened.
According to a statement from ECLAC, the participants agreed to advance in the design of a common regional agenda in response to the global economic crisis.
During the meeting, the authorities analyzed the current global and regional macroeconomic context, the regional fiscal situation, the fiscal implications of meeting investment needs for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and strengthening progress in meeting development goals. sustainable (SDG).
In his inaugural speech, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, highlighted the importance of generating regional meetings of finance authorities with the support of that institution and the United Nations, to provide spaces for dialogue that contribute to the construction of common agendas to face the ups and downs of the global economy.
He pointed out that the region faces global conditions that make it very difficult to conduct macroeconomic policy, which includes the effects of the war in Ukraine, the volatility in the financial and raw material markets, and the tightening by the central banks of the economies. advanced monetary policies to deal with inflation, which sharply reduce capital flows to emerging markets.
“This is the situation we are facing, exacerbated by external shocks and the aftermath of the pandemic. In this context, macroeconomic policy has to deal with a slowdown in economic growth and rising inflation, which coexist with the urgent need to reactivate economies, create quality jobs and strengthen social policies”, he stated.
According to the executive secretary of ECLAC, the average economic growth in the region in the decade 2014-2023 will be 0.8%, less than half the average growth of the famous “lost decade” of the eighties (2%). .
He highlighted that the current circumstances, marked by great needs and strong restrictions, suggest the need to review the fiscal pacts based on a framework of sustainability of public finances that emphasizes and combines the increase in revenues with a better use of resources. on the expenditure side, and reforms in the international financial system to facilitate the restructuring of the external debt.
He also urged the implementation of measures at the international level to move towards a reduction of the restrictions on growth and development that affect most of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean due to the high public debt service and its implications for space. fiscal.
Paris, May 16 (Prensa Latina) Cuba urged today, in the voice of its ambassador to Unesco, Yahima Esquivel, not to divert attention and the search for answers to pressing problems for humanity such as illiteracy, poverty and inequalities.
In his speech at the debate at the 216th Executive Council of the multilateral organization, he warned about the importance of facing these and other challenges, including the digital and technological gaps, even when there is deep concern about the complex global crisis generated by the unfair order prevailing economy.
Given this reality, structural problems seem to be ignored, which without being resolved are disappearing from the center of international debate and from our common agendas, she insisted in this capital.
According to the Cuban diplomat, the difficulties on the planet are aggravated by the systemic nature of the crisis and its climatic, energy, health, food and economic dimensions.
We see how this scenario, of immeasurable impact for developing countries, unleashes an escalation of geopolitical tensions, she said at the forum.
Esquivel explained at Unesco that Cuba considers international solidarity and cooperation to be the way out of such a challenging panorama, a vision that she has promoted since her pro tempore presidency this year of the Group of 77 plus China.
Likewise, she demanded an end to the unilateral coercive measures with extraterritorial application suffered by southern nations, including the blockade imposed by the United States on the largest of the Antilles, policies that she considered incompatible with the necessary response to overcome the global crisis.
In her speech, she also addressed the uneven pattern of post-pandemic recovery from Covid-19 that affects the countries of the South and the role that UNESCO must play to reverse it.
The ambassador illustrated what can be done based on solidarity and cooperation, protected by the values and principles of Unesco, with the commitments made by the members of the Group of 77 plus China in their meetings of Ministers of Education and Culture, hosted by Havana in February and this month, respectively.