Havana, 5 February 2021. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz, participated via videoconferencing at the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, held in the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan. In his address to the Prime Ministers and other heads of delegation of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the Cuban Premier highlighted the importance Cuba attaches to its inclusion as an Observer State in the organization. He reaffirmed this affords an opportunity to expand the already brotherly relations with the members of the EEU. He underlined the complexity of the current global situation, marked by COVID-19 and the subsequent systemic crisis. He stressed that our country has been faced with these challenges in a context of unprecedented hardening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US government. He thanked all those present for their support to Cuba in condemning this offensive, inhuman and discriminatory policy, which has become manifest in their endorsement of the resolution that is annually submitted to the consideration of the United Nations General Assembly. Marrero Cruz called for the strengthening of solidarity, multilateralism and cooperation as the most effective means to cope with the pandemic’s devastating effects and offered to put Cuban medical cooperation, and our country’s expertise in the biotech sector at the service of the States present. Cuba’s participation in this intergovernmental meeting is particularly relevant as it is our country’s first participation in a meeting after it was granted Observer status to the Eurasian Economic Union last 11 December. The meeting was also attended in person by the Cuban Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Julio GarmendÃa Peña, who is also our Permanent Representative to the regional organization. (Cubaminrex)
