Address by Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and Ministers, to the National Assembly of Popular Power, July 5, 2014, “Year 56 of the Revolution”
Selections
Translated by Charles McKelvey
Selections
Translated by Charles McKelvey
. . . . . . . . . .
I now turn to issues related to foreign policy.
In spite of growing international rejection, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, and within the United States, the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, far from being put right, continues in full vigor in open violation of the principles consecrated in the United Nations Charter.
The harassment of commercial and banking institutions that have relations with our country has increased to unprecedented levels, in many cases with an aggressive extraterritorial character, affecting even allies of the United States. This has occurred with respect to the recent fine of 8.97 billion dollars imposed on the French bank BNP-Paribás, the largest in France, in yet another violation of the sovereignty of nations, the norms of free commerce, and international law, as was denounced in a declaration by our Minister of Foreign Relations this past July 2. As an amazing consequence of the financial blockade, the Consular Section of Cuba in Washington has been deprived of banking services, to the detriment of Cubans that live in the United States, inasmuch as it creates obstacles to their family relations and their visits to our country.
Nor has the United States renounced its subversion against Cuba, as it continues to use clandestine methods and to employ new technologies of information and communication. This was made evident by the recent revelation concerning the Zunzuneo project, which constitutes a violation of our sovereignty and of international law.
The time has come for the United States to understand that these policies are condemned to failure and that it ought to respect the will and the right of Cubans to construct their future in peace.
Today Venezuela is resisting and is triumphing against the most sophisticated means of subversion and destabilization, including attempts at a coup d’état, in accordance with the concept of non-conventional war that the United States is applying in different regions. The Bolivarian and Chavist Revolution and the government headed by the constitutional President, Nicolás Maduro Moros, are receiving ample regional and international solidarity, in support of the Venezuelan people who are defending their achievements.
Recently, our country expressed, through a Declaration of the Minister of Foreign Relations, its solidarity and backing of the Republic of Argentina and President Cristina Fernández in the face of attacks associated with speculative funds, protected by unacceptable and interfering decisions of the courts of the United States. Latin America and the Caribbean close ranks in defense of this sister nation, aware that this aggression against the Argentinean people is directed also against the efforts of regional integration and sovereignty of all the countries of the South.
The agreements attained up to the moment between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) are significant. Never before has that country advanced so far toward the attainment of peace, in a conflict that has lasted more than a half century. At the request of the parties involved, Cuba will continue to play the role of one of the two guarantors and as the host of the dialogue, and it will continue to lend all necessary support for its development. We express support also for the exploratory process of the Colombian government and the Army of National Liberation (ELN), to which we will continue to contribute.
The celebration of the II Summit of CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States; [see “Declaration of Havana 2014” 3/14/2014]) in January, coinciding with the 161st anniversary of the birth of Martí, constituted a success for the Cuban people, as a result of the high level of participation of heads of state, the importance of the themes discussed, and the documents adopted, such as the Declaration of Havana and the Program of Action, which demonstrate our unity in diversity and the political will to advance Latin American and Caribbean integration. The signing by all the heads of state of the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace was a landmark of great historic significance that consecrates respect for the principles and norms of international law and the principles of United Nations Charter, and that establishes permanent commitment to the peaceful solution of controversies, with the goal of banishing forever from our region the use and the threat of employment of force. The documents also commit us to strict compliance to the obligation of non-intervention, direct or indirect, in the internal affairs of any other nation and to observe the principles of national sovereignty, the equality of rights, and the free determination of peoples. They commit us to the full respect—established in these documents—to the inalienable rights of all states to elect their political, economic, social, and cultural system, as an essential condition for assuring peaceful coexistence, marking the first time that this principle has been established in a document signed by all the heads of state of Latin America and the Caribbean. And the documents affirm as well the promotion of a culture of peace, characterized by disarmament and the promotion of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, in order to promote the strengthening of confidence among nations. . . . Cuba pledges its continuing support for the consolidation and strengthening of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
In May, the Minister of Public Health, Roberto Morales Ojeda, in representation of Cuba, successfully presided over the 67th World Assembly of Health, the highest authority of the World Organization of Health. This indicates the high level of recognition of the advances attained in this area in Cuba and of the international cooperation that has been and is being lent by thousands of our compatriots [who serve in international medical missions].
The Summit of the Group of 77 and China [see “The nations of the Global South Speak” 6/19/2014], held this past June, demonstrated the outstanding popular and international leadership of President Evo Morales Ayma. The Summit adopted important declarations in defense of the interests of the countries of the South and paid tribute to Commandant Ernesto Che Chevara on the anniversary of his birth.
As a testimony of our growing ties and solidarity with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), toward which we feel an intimate connection, and of our common interests and objectives, the diplomatic representation of its member states in Havana has been completed, as a result of the opening, by Prime Minister Denzil, of the Embassy of Saint Kitts and Nevis. We already are working in preparation for the Fifth Summit CARICOM-Cuba that will be held in our country on December 8 of this year, in commemoration of the day on which Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago simultaneously established diplomatic relations with Cuba, an action that had great weight in a moment in which few countries had relations with us, so that Mexico was no longer the only country that violated the norm, but some others as well.
With the satisfaction of having René and Fernando return to our country, after completing fully their unjust sentences, we reiterate our commitment to not cease, joined with others, in our efforts for the liberation of Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio, a cause for which we will continue to give the maximum priority.
. . . . . . . . . .
We are working to preserve the achievements of our revolution, for which so many generations of Cubans have struggled, and to achieve the construction of a sustainable and prosperous socialism.
That is all for now, thank you very much.
(Ovation)
I now turn to issues related to foreign policy.
In spite of growing international rejection, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, and within the United States, the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, far from being put right, continues in full vigor in open violation of the principles consecrated in the United Nations Charter.
The harassment of commercial and banking institutions that have relations with our country has increased to unprecedented levels, in many cases with an aggressive extraterritorial character, affecting even allies of the United States. This has occurred with respect to the recent fine of 8.97 billion dollars imposed on the French bank BNP-Paribás, the largest in France, in yet another violation of the sovereignty of nations, the norms of free commerce, and international law, as was denounced in a declaration by our Minister of Foreign Relations this past July 2. As an amazing consequence of the financial blockade, the Consular Section of Cuba in Washington has been deprived of banking services, to the detriment of Cubans that live in the United States, inasmuch as it creates obstacles to their family relations and their visits to our country.
Nor has the United States renounced its subversion against Cuba, as it continues to use clandestine methods and to employ new technologies of information and communication. This was made evident by the recent revelation concerning the Zunzuneo project, which constitutes a violation of our sovereignty and of international law.
The time has come for the United States to understand that these policies are condemned to failure and that it ought to respect the will and the right of Cubans to construct their future in peace.
Today Venezuela is resisting and is triumphing against the most sophisticated means of subversion and destabilization, including attempts at a coup d’état, in accordance with the concept of non-conventional war that the United States is applying in different regions. The Bolivarian and Chavist Revolution and the government headed by the constitutional President, Nicolás Maduro Moros, are receiving ample regional and international solidarity, in support of the Venezuelan people who are defending their achievements.
Recently, our country expressed, through a Declaration of the Minister of Foreign Relations, its solidarity and backing of the Republic of Argentina and President Cristina Fernández in the face of attacks associated with speculative funds, protected by unacceptable and interfering decisions of the courts of the United States. Latin America and the Caribbean close ranks in defense of this sister nation, aware that this aggression against the Argentinean people is directed also against the efforts of regional integration and sovereignty of all the countries of the South.
The agreements attained up to the moment between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) are significant. Never before has that country advanced so far toward the attainment of peace, in a conflict that has lasted more than a half century. At the request of the parties involved, Cuba will continue to play the role of one of the two guarantors and as the host of the dialogue, and it will continue to lend all necessary support for its development. We express support also for the exploratory process of the Colombian government and the Army of National Liberation (ELN), to which we will continue to contribute.
The celebration of the II Summit of CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States; [see “Declaration of Havana 2014” 3/14/2014]) in January, coinciding with the 161st anniversary of the birth of Martí, constituted a success for the Cuban people, as a result of the high level of participation of heads of state, the importance of the themes discussed, and the documents adopted, such as the Declaration of Havana and the Program of Action, which demonstrate our unity in diversity and the political will to advance Latin American and Caribbean integration. The signing by all the heads of state of the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace was a landmark of great historic significance that consecrates respect for the principles and norms of international law and the principles of United Nations Charter, and that establishes permanent commitment to the peaceful solution of controversies, with the goal of banishing forever from our region the use and the threat of employment of force. The documents also commit us to strict compliance to the obligation of non-intervention, direct or indirect, in the internal affairs of any other nation and to observe the principles of national sovereignty, the equality of rights, and the free determination of peoples. They commit us to the full respect—established in these documents—to the inalienable rights of all states to elect their political, economic, social, and cultural system, as an essential condition for assuring peaceful coexistence, marking the first time that this principle has been established in a document signed by all the heads of state of Latin America and the Caribbean. And the documents affirm as well the promotion of a culture of peace, characterized by disarmament and the promotion of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, in order to promote the strengthening of confidence among nations. . . . Cuba pledges its continuing support for the consolidation and strengthening of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
In May, the Minister of Public Health, Roberto Morales Ojeda, in representation of Cuba, successfully presided over the 67th World Assembly of Health, the highest authority of the World Organization of Health. This indicates the high level of recognition of the advances attained in this area in Cuba and of the international cooperation that has been and is being lent by thousands of our compatriots [who serve in international medical missions].
The Summit of the Group of 77 and China [see “The nations of the Global South Speak” 6/19/2014], held this past June, demonstrated the outstanding popular and international leadership of President Evo Morales Ayma. The Summit adopted important declarations in defense of the interests of the countries of the South and paid tribute to Commandant Ernesto Che Chevara on the anniversary of his birth.
As a testimony of our growing ties and solidarity with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), toward which we feel an intimate connection, and of our common interests and objectives, the diplomatic representation of its member states in Havana has been completed, as a result of the opening, by Prime Minister Denzil, of the Embassy of Saint Kitts and Nevis. We already are working in preparation for the Fifth Summit CARICOM-Cuba that will be held in our country on December 8 of this year, in commemoration of the day on which Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago simultaneously established diplomatic relations with Cuba, an action that had great weight in a moment in which few countries had relations with us, so that Mexico was no longer the only country that violated the norm, but some others as well.
With the satisfaction of having René and Fernando return to our country, after completing fully their unjust sentences, we reiterate our commitment to not cease, joined with others, in our efforts for the liberation of Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio, a cause for which we will continue to give the maximum priority.
. . . . . . . . . .
We are working to preserve the achievements of our revolution, for which so many generations of Cubans have struggled, and to achieve the construction of a sustainable and prosperous socialism.
That is all for now, thank you very much.
(Ovation)