“The criminal economic war waged by the United States against Cuba has brought the island’s economy to a near standstill,” denounced Havana’s ambassador to Mexico, Eugenio Martínez, in an interview published today by La Jornada.
The diplomat told the newspaper that Washington’s strategy, based on “lies” and motivated by the desire of an old Cuban elite to return to the power that the revolution wrested from them, has a “violent” economic impact on the daily lives of the country’s inhabitants.
“The idea of resistance is in the Cuban DNA… There is no intention of surrendering; we will find a way to continue living with dignity,” he stated, referring to the people’s response to the intensification of the blockade imposed by Washington.
The final straw in the actions against Cuba has been the threat by US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on nations that trade oil with the island, Martínez noted, adding that “we are operating with virtually zero fuel imports.”
He described the consequences of the economic strangulation orchestrated for more than six decades.
“Our GDP has declined, we have stopped providing services we used to offer, we have lost the capacity to generate electricity, we have lost income from international cooperation, we have lost visitors due to the persecution by the US government, and remittances have been blocked.”
Regarding how to confront the situation in Cuba, he affirmed that his country has a plan.
“We have done it before and we have survived. We have had to readjust the country’s operations by suspending non-core activities and accelerating renewable energy production,” he pointed out.
In response to a question about whether there are possibilities for dialogue with the United States, the ambassador recalled that both nations have formalized diplomatic relations in 2015, which have not been severed.
“Diplomatic channels of communication are quite deteriorated. The Cuban government has publicly and clearly expressed its willingness to engage in serious and responsible dialogue, based on respect,” he asserted.
“We are confident,” he added, “that solutions can be found for important bilateral issues and that we can discuss the topics on which we have differences. And the United States government knows this.”
Given the complex situation facing Cuba, Martínez expressed his gratitude for the international support and that of Mexico.
“President Claudia Sheinbaum has been emphatic and firm in defending Mexico’s right to its relations with Cuba, to assist it, and to not renounce a normal economic and commercial relationship that includes the supply of fuel,” the diplomat emphasized.
“This commitment,” he mentioned, “has been accompanied by concrete aid from the Mexican government and demonstrations from Mexican civil society. The Cuban people are immensely grateful.”
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
