Radio Havana Cuba shares in full the statement by Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, published on the official website of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs / translation into English by Radio Havana Cuba
Your Excellency Mr. António Costa, President of the European Council.
Your Excellency Ms. Francia Márquez, Vice President of the Republic of Colombia. Your Excellencies Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers,
Distinguished participants:
Given its importance to the Cuban people, I would like to begin by thanking the countries of both regions that supported, in the recent session of the UN General Assembly, the legitimate demand of our people to end the illegal and unjust blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.
We deeply appreciate the support of our sister nations of CARICOM, which have maintained unwavering solidarity with Cuba in all international forums. We thank them for their firm call for the removal of our country from the fraudulent and unilateral list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
We will never forget the noble and courageous gestures of our CARICOM brothers and sisters, faithful to the historical ties and friendship that bind us, as exemplified by the maxim of our Commander-in-Chief, Fidel Castro Ruz, when he affirmed that “The Caribbean can always count on the eternal friendship, selflessness, gratitude, and full and total support of its Cuban brothers and sisters.”
In addition, there is the cooperation in strategic areas of common interest that, for almost 53 years of relations, has benefited our peoples. This is also a fitting occasion to express our deepest condolences and solidarity with our sister nations in the Caribbean, which, like Cuba, suffered the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, which has caused significant human and material damage in our region.
Our healthcare workers and other aid workers in the affected countries have joined the recovery efforts.
Distinguished participants: We attend this Meeting of Caribbean and European Union Leaders with the hope that it will contribute to promoting actions that benefit both parties, particularly the Caribbean nations.
We demand fair and differentiated treatment, as well as reparations for the horrors of colonialism and slavery, and the fulfillment of financing commitments for adaptation, mitigation, and action against climate change, which is a matter of survival for all.
The Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean face, with greater intensity, the serious effects of the global multidimensional crisis, exacerbated even further when we suffer the impact of unilateral coercive measures.
It is imperative that the current criteria for graduating Official Development Assistance be reviewed and modified so that they reflect the specific realities of our countries. Furthermore, the arbitrary and discriminatory designation of CARICOM countries as non-cooperative tax jurisdictions must cease, as it negatively impacts their economies, already affected by the current unjust international economic order.
We call for a concerted effort to eliminate the enormous gap in resources and capabilities that separates the Caribbean and the European Union.
Many shared potentials can be harnessed in high-priority areas such as food security, development finance, technology transfer, renewable energy, digital transformation, and scientific research.
The relations between the European Union and the Caribbean can also contribute to fostering development, stability, and peace in Haiti, respecting its sovereignty and self-determination, without impositions or military interventions.
We reiterate our willingness to join any effort to support Haiti, based on these principles, while maintaining our modest cooperation in the health sector there.
In the current context, given the offensive and extraordinary military deployment by the United States government, which threatens war in the Caribbean Sea under the false pretext of combating drug trafficking, it is vital to preserve the peace, security, and stability of the region, which must continue to be a Zone of Peace.
We hope to see the strengthening of ties between the Caribbean and the European Union, which require greater dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity, without pressure or preconditions, and with due attention to the legitimate demands and concerns of the Caribbean countries.
In this endeavor, based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, you can continue to count on Cuba.
Thank you very much.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
Published on the official website of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs / translation into English by Radio Havana Cuba
