Speech delivered by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Hon. Mr. Manuel Marrero Cruz (NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION)
His Excellency Askar Mamin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
His Excellency Mr. Ulukbek Maripov, Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic,
Your Excellencies Heads of Government and Delegations:
I appreciate the invitation of Kazakhstan, as president pro tempore of the Eurasian Economic Union to participate in this meeting and I wish to acknowledge the organizational work of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the President of its College, His Excellency Mr. Mikhail Miasnikovich.
I extend from Cuba, a fraternal greeting to the Kyrgyz people and government, which is hosting this important session of the Council.
Once again, the epidemiological situation in Cuba and in the world, prevents our face-to-face participation in this event, as we would have liked.
Since our last meeting last April, the aggressions and hostility of the United States government against Cuba have intensified. The administration of Joseph Biden has chosen not only to maintain, but to intensify the package of unilateral coercive measures against Cuba, which President Donald Trump opportunistically, deliberately and cruelly reinforced in the midst of the battle against COVID-19 in my country.
We are grateful for the support provided by their States to the resolution “Necessity to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba”, at the United Nations General Assembly on June 23, which once again demonstrated, the overwhelming support of the international community for this just claim.
To the blockade, a violation of International Law and the UN Charter, there have been added the harmful effects caused on our economy by more than 16 months of confrontation with the pandemic, the reduction of our income due to the fall in tourism and the negative incidence of the climate change, with a significant impact on agriculture.
Excellencies:
As part of the campaign against Cuba, in recent months a political-communication operation has been unleashed, financed with funds from the United States Government, which seeks to destabilize the situation in our country and which has also provoked acts of extreme violence, such as the terrorist attack on our Embassy in Paris.
After the riots and vandalism that occurred in the capital and some other towns in the country on July 11, the current situation is one of total citizen tranquility and our institutions function normally.
But Cuba continues to be the object of the dissemination of false information, which circulates on Social Networks about an alleged continuity of disturbances in the country, acts of repression and arbitrary arrests, which have been echoed by some international press media, of well-known far-right credentials.
All of this is part of a scheme tested by the United States against Cuba and other sister countries on multiple occasions. The peoples and governments of Belarus and Russia have been the object of similar operations and are aware of the risks involved.
On behalf of our people and government, I am grateful for the many expressions of support, manifested through donations of food, medicine, logistical support, as well as the permanent expressions of solidarity of the Member States of the Union and I reaffirm that Cuba will continue to defend its A socialist state of law and social justice, it will persist in the construction of an independent, sovereign, democratic, prosperous and sustainable nation and will continue to be a country of peace, committed to the solidarity and well-being of all the peoples of the world.
Excellencies:
In its purpose of continuing to promote international cooperation and solidarity, in an increasingly complex global scenario, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to develop economic, commercial, financial and cooperation ties with the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states, through who bind us close ties of friendship and brotherhood.
We attach special importance to advancing inter-sector exchanges and strengthening work in areas of common interest with the countries of the Union. One of the priorities of our agendas must be the confrontation with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has unleashed a multisectoral crisis and constitutes a challenge for the development of our nations. We have the firm conviction that only the joint effort will make it possible to stop the spread of the pandemic and minimize its consequences.
Under this principle, we reiterate our interest in advancing in effective exchange with the member states of the Union, making available to them the experience of Cuban professionals in the management of the disease, and the results of the scientific research carried out for its prevention and treatment.
Likewise, I ratify Cuba’s interest in achieving the active participation of the Eurasian business community in investment projects in our country, in increasing and diversifying exports of goods and services, and in implementing joint projects in various sectors, especially those associated with exploration and hydrocarbon exploitation; the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry; the Agriculture; transport; and the iron and steel industry.
I reiterate our desire to deepen relations in the tourism sector, with emphasis on the modality of corporate and health tourism, in accordance with the characteristics of the markets of the Member States and taking advantage of the experience that has been acquired in this field through the joint work with the Russian Federation.
Excellencies:
We ratify the invariable determination of Cuba, to collaborate in the implementation of the strategic guidelines for the development of the Eurasian economic integration until 2025 and to work in the fulfillment of the Joint Collaboration Plan 2021-2026, for the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between Cuba and the Eurasian Economic Commission, which fully correspond to the Economic and Social Development Plan of our country until 2030.
We are convinced that together we can face the challenges that these times impose and that in close cooperation, our governments will be able to guarantee the well-being of our peoples and thus demonstrate that a better world is possible.
Thank you
