Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed to his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez, on Wednesday that his country will maintain its unwavering support for Havana in the face of the US blockade.
“Together with the majority of members of the international community, we call on the United States to show common sense and a responsible approach and refrain from plans for a naval blockade of the Island of Freedom,” the foreign minister of the Eurasian giant emphasized during a meeting with the Cuban foreign minister in Moscow.
The head of diplomacy for Russia categorically rejected the implausible accusations against Russia and Cuba, as well as the notion that cooperation is a threat to the interests of Washington or any other country.
“All issues must be resolved exclusively through mutually respectful dialogue aimed at finding a balance of interests,” Lavrov stated.
“We know that our Cuban friends are always ready for such sincere talks. In turn, we will continue to consistently support Cuba and the Cuban people in protecting the country’s sovereignty and security,” he declared.
For his part, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who is on a working visit to Russia as an envoy of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the government, thanked Russian authorities for their unconditional support of his country, which has faced an economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by successive U.S. administrations for nearly seven decades — a blockade designed to strangle the Caribbean island.
“We share a deep concern about the deterioration of the international order, which was already unjust and precarious, but which is now being replaced by the practices of the United States government, with operations of plunder and occupation of natural resources, a total transgression of international law behind the back of the United Nations. This threatens not only the current order and multilateralism, but also the sovereignty and security of all states without exception,” Rodríguez emphasized.
In this context, he explained that Cuba currently faces an even greater threat, one that adds to decades of blockade and is further intensified by the executive order declaring the country an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
“As always, we will defend our independence and sovereignty, maintain an unwavering course of seeking greater economic efficiency, work tirelessly on the recovery of our economy, and at the same time, we will always be ready for respectful dialogue on equal terms with any country,” the Cuban Foreign Minister emphasized.
Bruno Rodríguez described the relations between Havana and Moscow as historic, fraternal, special, and strategic, while assuring that, despite any external pressure, bilateral programs will continue their normal development for the benefit of both nations.
On Wednesday afternoon, the member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) will be received by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he will discuss the development of bilateral ties, the current energy crisis facing Cuba due to the oil embargo imposed by the White House, as well as other international issues.
The Cuban foreign minister arrived in Moscow on Tuesday afternoon, the 17th, and will extend his agenda until Thursday, along with the delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva, and Deputy Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and Chief of the General Staff, Army Corps General Roberto Legrá, among other officials.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
