Embassy of Cuba in New Zealand

Newsletter

No.28

November 2013

Votes on UN Resolution against US Blockade of Cuba:

In favour: 188

Against: 2

Abstain: 3

UN General Assembly Overwhelmingly Supports Cuba Against US Blockade

October 29th

The Cuban Resolution on the need to lift the over-50-year US commercial, economic and financial blockade of the island was overwhelmingly approved by the UN General Assembly with 188 votes in favor.

The United States and Israel remained isolated as they continue to support the US's hostile Cuban policy, which has inflicted damage on the island estimated at over 1.2 trillion dollars, according to recent information, plus a huge impact on the people.

Palau, which in 2012 had voted against the Cuban resolution, abstained this year, along the Marshal Islands and Micronesia.

Since the resolution was first submitted to the UN vote in 1992, Cuba has received strong support from the international community. Over 180 UN states have backed the document over the past nine years.

The illegal siege posed by Washington in 1962 was further reinforced with extraterritorial laws and it constitutes a flagrant violation of the Cuban people's human rights and of those of citizens of third countries and even of the people of the United States.

US blockade has inflicted incalculable damage to Cuba – Foreign Minister

October 29th

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the damage inflicted by the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba is incalculable.

The criminal policy causes suffering and constitute a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of human rights; 76 percent of Cubans have lived under the devastating effects of the blockade since they are born, said the foreign minister as he addressed the 68 plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Rodriguez recalled that the damage inflicted by the over-50-year blockade on Cuba is estimated at over 1.2 trillion dollars.

The blockade qualifies as an act of genocide, according to article 2 of the 1948 Geneva Convention on the Prevention and the Sanction of Genocide, and as an act of economic war, according to to the Declaration on the Right of Maritime War adopted in 1909, he said.

The top diplomat stressed that the blockade was designed to submit the Cuban people to hunger and economic shortage to cause the fall of the Cuban government, as it was established in a US government memorandum dated April 6, 1960.

Minister Rodriguez said that under the Obama administration, the blockade was reinforced with the persecution of Cuban financial transactions around the world, with no respect for the laws of third countries.

Cuba cannot export or import products or services to or from the United States or use the US dollar in its transactions, including payment to international entities, said the minister and pointed out that the blockade is a hostile and unilateral act that must be ended, a discredited policy lacking ethical and legal ground as it has been proven by over 180 votes by UN member nations and statements by many heads of state and government, who participated in the debate.

Read the statement by the Cuban Foreign Minister in full

Cuban Minister says sustainable development is key to face regional challenges

October 26th

Cuban Mining and Energy minister Alfredo Lopez called at a regional ministerial meeting in Jamaica for joint efforts to achieve sustainable development as the key to successfully overcome the challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Addressing participants at the 2nd Meeting of Energy Ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and on behalf of Cuba as pro-tempore chair of the organization, Lopez thanked for the organization of the two-day meeting, which was aimed at consolidating regional integration in the field of energy.

“It undoubtedly is very significant the fact that we are meeting in a Caribbean country to address an issue that has always been at the center of concern, particularly for small island nations,” said the Cuban minister as cited by PL news agency.

He said that in most cases, small island nations do not count on the important resources that stem from traditional energy sources, which has historically hindered their development. However, he said the Caribbean area has important potential in this regard as he pointed to renewable energy sources like the Sun.

Uruguayan health minister highlights role of Cuban doctors

October 26th

Uruguayan Health minister Susana Muñiz expressed in the capital Montevideo her gratefulness for the solidarity and support given to her people by Cuba and the Jose Marti medical brigade.

The minister stressed the work of 21 Cuban medical specialists who have been working along Uruguayan professionals at the Ojos Jose Marti Hospital in the outskirts of the city capital, where they have administered 42 thousand eye surgeries and have given over four thousand specialized consultations monthly.

Muñiz made her statements after handing over two last generation equipment, valued at half a million dollar, which will contribute to improve and advance eye surgeries, Pl news agency.

Cuban Consul in Uruguay Aglaya Diaz said the equipment will help benefit the people and will also contribute to medical efficiency. Diaz also stressed the close collaboration relations between Uruguay and Cuba.

The Cuban medical brigade has been offering services in the South American nation for six years now.

Mexican and Cuban entities implement joint agriculture projects

October 26th

The Cuban Tropical Agriculture Institute and the Mexican Office for Rural Development and Communities in the Mexican capital city will implement joint research projects and exchange of scientific information particularly related to urban gardening.

The two entities signed a collaboration agreement which includes the setting up of a permanent working team, according to PL news agency.

During a meeting in Havana, the representative of the UN Food and AGriculture Organization in Havana, Theodor Friedrich said that Cuba has achieved significant results in boosting sustainable agriculture.

French and Cuban companies meet over new business opportunities

October 29th

Cuban and French entrepreneurs are meeting in Havana on Tuesday to identify new business opportunities to consolidate bilateral economic and commercial relations.

The forum is taking place at Havana's National Hotel in the framework of a visit here by representatives of the Movement of French Companies, according to the Cuban Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting's agenda includes remarks by the president of the French organization Pierre Pringuet, who is the general director of Pernod Ricard, one of the world leading companies in the production and sale of liquors.

The general Management director of the Cuban Ministry of Industries, Adriana Barcelo, will give a presentation on development prospects in her sector for the year 2014.

The French and Cuban entrepreneurs will address business opportunities in different economic sectors in pursuance of common interests and mutual benefits. In a similar forum held in 2012, French entrepreneurs were interested in investment opportunities in the areas of energy, oil, sugar, communications, tourism and construction.

France is one of Cuba's major commercial partners in Europe and it is also the fifth major source of tourists to the island, with over 100 thousand visitors annually.

Vice-president of India praises bonds with Cuba

October 30th

The Vice-president of the Republic of India, Mohammad Hamid Ansari, described on Wednesday as excellent his country’s relations with Cuba for over half a century now.

After placing a wreath by the monument to National Hero Jose Marti, at this capital’s Revolution Square, Hamid Ansari underlined the close friendship uniting the peoples of the two nations.

Accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra, the visitor toured the Memorial dedicated to the Cuban pro-independence hero, located there, where he highlighted the significance of the life and work of Marti and his importance for the island and the rest of the world.

Later, he held official talks with Miguel Diaz-Canel, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and First Vice-president of the councils of State and Ministers.

On Tuesday, Hamid Ansari officially inaugurated the Festival of Indian Culture at Havana’s Mella Theater, the largest festival of its kind in Cuba, which will end on November 4.

During his visit, which wound up on Wednesday, agreements on visa exemptions were signed as well as a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the fields of broadcasting. Also, the visitor handed over a donation to the National Sports Institute.

The two countries have developed bonds of cooperation, among which the Technical Cooperation Program in branches like agriculture, education, electronics, computing and the textile industry, among others, stand out.

Cuba to Host Meeting of the International Red Cross

October 30th

For the first time, Cuba will be the venue of the Regional Meeting of the Service for the Reestablishment of Family Contacts and Search of the International Movement of the Red Cross, to be held in this capital on November 7-9 at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

Attending the meeting, sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross, will be representatives of the national societies of Central America, the Caribbean, the United States and Canada, the purpose of which is to analyze the new challenges of this humanitarian service in the face of the changeable situations of today’s world.

Also participating in the forum will be regional delegations of Mexico and the United States, as well as members of that organization based in Geneva, according to information given to ACN by Susana Llovet, director of the Office for the Reestablishment of Family Contacts and Search of the Cuban National Society of the Red Cross, created in 1909, when the service was also created.

Mexican President receives Cuban Foreign Minister

October 31st

The Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, asserted on Friday that he had the honor of being received by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, during his visit to that country.

The Cuban FM made these statements in Mexico during a keynote lecture entitled Vision sobre America Latina, el Caribe y Cuba (View on Latin America, the Caribbean and Cuba), that he gave a the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the Granma newspaper reported on Saturday.

Rodriguez added that he also met with his Mexican counterpart, Jose Antonio Meade, with whom he tackled several aspects to give fresh impetus to bilateral relations.

According to information by Notimex, in the context of the visit, Mexico and Cuba adopted eight different instruments that strengthen the legal framework supporting bilateral relations.

The legal instruments adopted, informed the Treasury and Public Credit Department (SHCP), are the increase of a credit line for more trade and investment, a letter in intent for bilateral cooperation and two treaties: one on extradition and one on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Also agreed was the expansion of the agreement of economic (ACE-51) two cooperation agreements in the field of tourism and on mutual recognition and validation of certificates, diplomas and higher education studies were signed, as well as a memorandum of understanding in the spheres of natural resources and the environment.

Campaign 'voices of the five' presented in Havana

October 31st

The European solidarity campaign “Voices for The Five,” which has been joined by more than 100 international personalities, was presented on Thursday in this capital by Belgium activist Katrien Demuynck, president of the Socialist Cuba Association.

The initiative that began in Wednesday in London with the launch of the www.voicesforthefive.com website is aimed at pressing the U.S. government to release the Cuban antiterrorist heroes unfairly incarcerated in that country.

An International Commission of Investigation of the case will be organized in the British capital on March 7 and 8, 2014, as part of the campaign, Ms Demuynck informed the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples. She is also the coordinator in Europe of the International Committee for the Freedom of The Five.

Co-sponsored by the European Movement of Solidarity with Cuba and the International Association of Democratic Jurists, this meeting is one of the most important initiatives at an international level for the release of Fernando Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero and Ramon Labañino, she said.

Rene Gonzalez, one of The Five, is in Cuba after serving his sentence in the U.S. plus an additional period of “supervised release.”

Supporters from legal and human rights organisations will know of the terrorist acts against Cuba committed by criminals based in the United States, in addition to details of the biased trial against The Five, which ended in the imposition of harsh and unfair sentences. Recommendations derived from the campaign will be taken to Washington by a commission, with the purpose of handing them over to President Barack Obama, and will be used to inform congress representatives and senators about the case.

Notable figures of the academic, political, cultural and media fields also support the campaign, including Noam Chomsky, Gunter Grass, Ramsey Clark, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Emma Thompson and Miguel D’Escoto.

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Exchanges between Cuba and China increase

October 31st

Until August, commercial exchanges between Cuba and China amounts to over 10 billion dollars, informed in this city the Chinese economic department.

This figure represents an increase of 25 percent with respect to the same period of 2012, and also reflects the increasing strength of bonds between the two nations, explained Ma Kequiang, counselor of the Chinese embassy to Havana.

Exports from Havana to Beijing reached 450 million dollars, particularly for sales of products associated with the field of biotechnology, the mining industry and cigars, specified the official.

However, compared to last year’s performance, the island’s imports suffered a 7.5 percent contracting, due to the unpredictability of nickel prices on the international market, clarified Ma Kequiang.

Cuba’s second trade partner after Venezuela, China will attend the 31st edition of Havana’s International Trade Fair, to be held on November 3-9, with a large delegation of its business community.

Related: Cuba and China cooperate in Biotechnology

Cuba and Slovakia strengthen political and cultural bonds

November 1st

With the signing on Friday of agreements for bilateral cooperation, the republics of Cuba and Slovakia strengthened their political and cultural bonds even more.

A Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a mechanism of consultation between foreign ministries, and a Cooperation Agreement between the Culture ministries of the two nations was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this city.

After signing the document, Peter Burian, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia expressed his country’s interest in enriching bilateral bonds by way of the promotion of cultural exchanges.

Signing the documents, for Cuba, were Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra and Deputy Culture Minister Fernando Rojas.

Havana’s International Trade Fair to begin on Sunday

November 2nd

About to open its doors on Sunday, the 31st edition of Havana’s International Trade Fair, FIHAV 2013, ratified its significance for Cuba and the region, with the attendance of 1,400 exhibitors of 64 nations.

The over 3,000 visitors accredited to the meeting made this edition the largest in 11 years, which is also a reflection of the growing interest of foreign entrepreneurs to do business in the Cuban market.

Miriam Martinez, director for Fairs and Exhibitions of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba (CCRC), told ACN that the National Pavilion will occupy an area of 5,000 square meters, where 114 enterprises will show their goods and services, representing another 350 entities of the island.

A wide program of business and presentations of products will take place until November 9 at Expocuba, the meeting’s usual venue, some 25 kilometers away from the center of the city, pointed out the official.

She announced that among the most important activities is the presentation on November 5, 10:00 a.m., of the Special Development Area of Mariel, in charge of Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca.

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Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in New Zealand

76 Messines Rd, Karori, Wellington 6012

www.cubadiplomatica.cu/nuevazelanda/EN/Home.aspx

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