This morning, February 3, 2022, within the framework of the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of Proclamation 3447, which formalized the blockade of the United States government against Cuba, the Amphitheater of the Convention Center "Enrique José Varona" was the venue of a conversation between colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) and students and professors from the University of Havana (UH).
The panel of MINREX representatives was made up of Ismara Vargas Walter, Director of Legal Affairs and Analysis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and specialists from the General Directorate of the United States of MINREX David Ramírez Álvarez and Jorge Luis Cepero Aguiar. Likewise, the event was attended by Dr. C. Dionisio Zaldivar Silva, First Vice Chancellor of the UH, MsC. Silvia González Legarda, Director of International Relations of the UH, and Dr. C. Raúl Rodríguez Rodríguez, Director of the Center for Hemispheric and United States Studies (CESHEU), who served as moderator; as well as students and professors from various careers at the UH.
Ismara Vargas Walter opened the discussion with reflections such as: what do we understand by blockade? What is the reason for Cuba to live like this? Questions that marked the lines of debate. Likewise, she listed some of the pretexts used historically for the establishment of a new government in our country, whose objective has always been to prevent the development of our economy. He also assured that in more than six decades the expressions of that blockade have been varied: restrictions on family visits, prohibition of Americans traveling to Cuba, relentless persecution of any indication of a possible relationship between Cuba and other countries in the commercial and financial field. , and how the measures have been more or less rigorous depending on the interests of the US government.
In turn, David Ramírez Álvarez assured that the blockade is not just an abstract concept but a series of regulations, and the existence of a constant persecution of foreign companies, which hinders commercial and financial relations. He also told about how it hinders one of the main branches of our economy, tourism. While Jorge Luis Cepero Aguiar argued about the application of the Helms-Burton Law and its repercussions.
The established exchange favored the participation of those present, among whom was Miguel Espinosa, a student at the Faculty of Tourism, who asserted: although the enemy is one of the greatest empires of contemporary times, we must act intelligently.In the same way, Jorge Bencomo, professor of Philosophy, declared: we have all experienced the blockade, and we have felt it from the moment we get up until we go to bed (...) these policies have been structured to affect the moral capacity of the Cuban people (...) We have to learn and innovate from our capacities and that was demonstrated in this time of pandemic with those vaccines that we have.
Another of the points underlined towards the end by the panelists was the resolution presented by Cuba to the United Nations for the cessation of the blockade, which has been supported by the international community on numerous occasions, as well as the media bombardment through social networks. social and the censorship that exists of some pages, which have been blocked for our country.
Ismara Vargas Walter, concluded with conviction: It doesn't matter where you are, but always defend the truth.
Source: University of Havana