The National Association of Italy-Cuba Friendship has strongly condemned the blocking of the operational accounts of the Cuban medical mission in Calabria, an act of financial interference by the United States that, it denounces, seriously affects Italian public health. In a statement, the organization describes the measure as an illegal extension of OFAC sanctions against Cuba, with extraterritorial laws that violate international law and Italy’s sovereignty.
The association emphasizes that the Cuban healthcare personnel, mostly women and men, perform “extraordinary, valuable, and indispensable” work in regions with a shortage of professionals, such as Calabria. Obstructing their work is, in their view, “an act of unprecedented gravity.” While Cuba, despite the criminal blockade of more than six decades, offers global healthcare solidarity without expecting anything in return, the US administration is showing “its true imperial face,” even preventing normal scientific and cultural exchanges.
The organization demands that Italian and European institutions defend their sovereignty, protect cooperation agreements, and reject any extraterritorial sanctions. It concludes with the slogans: “Solidarity cannot be blocked, Cuban medicine cannot be sanctioned” and “Cuba lives, resists, and will prevail.”
The Italy-Cuba Friendship Association denounces the US financial aggression against Cuban doctors in Calabria
Statement taken from Cubadebate
The United States’ financial aggression affects public health in Italy: Hands off Cuban medical solidarity!
The National Association of Italy-Cuba Friendship expresses its strongest condemnation and deepest indignation at yet another shameful act of interference and financial aggression perpetrated by the United States of America against the Republic of Cuba, this time with a direct and extremely serious impact on the health of Italian citizens.
The blocking of operational accounts linked to the Cuban medical mission represents another flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of nations. The United States is once again attempting to extend its unilateral and extortionate decisions—beginning with the inclusion of Cuban entities on the OFAC sanctions lists—beyond its borders, imposing extraterritorial laws on third countries and even its own European allies, with utter disregard for the norms governing international relations.
It is unacceptable and intolerable that US economic extortion should affect men and women who have left their homeland to dedicate their professionalism and humanity to serving the community.
Cuban doctors are performing extraordinary, valuable, and indispensable work in territories that have suffered for years from a shortage of healthcare personnel, such as Calabria. Obstructing their work and the free functioning of cooperation agreements is an act of unprecedented gravity.
While a small island like Cuba, a victim for more than sixty years of a criminal and illegitimate economic, commercial, and financial blockade, continues to offer solidarity, treating the sick and saving lives around the world without asking for anything in return except respect for its independence, the US administration once again reveals its true face: that of an empire that attempts to prevent Cuba from even exercising its right to engage in normal economic, cultural, and scientific exchanges with other states.
This is not only an act of aggression against Cuba: it is an insult to the sovereignty of Italy and to the right to health of our population.
The National Association of Friendship between Italy and Cuba:
* Strongly condemns the interference of the US and its attempt to dictate the law in relations between sovereign states;
* Renews its full and unconditional solidarity with the Cuban doctors and healthcare personnel present in Italy;
* Calls on Italian and European institutions to proudly uphold their sovereignty, protect the signed cooperation agreements, and resolutely reject any form of extraterritorial sanction that harms the interests of our country and Cuba’s right to self-determination.
Solidarity cannot be blocked, Cuban medicine cannot be sanctioned!
Cuba lives, resists and will prevail!
National Secretariat – National Association of Friendship between Italy and Cuba
IMAGE CREDIT: Cuban surgeon operates in Reggio Emilia, Calabria. Photo: Courtesy of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Calabria / Taken from Cubadebate.
[ SOURCE: www.cubainformacion.tv ]
