Paris, May 10. This afternoon, the Assistant Director General for Education of UNESCO Ms. Stefania Giannini, received the Ambassador of Cuba to the Organization María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro.
In the cordial meeting, the Cuban diplomat reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to UNESCO, especially in the sphere of education. In this sense, she highlighted the priority that the island's government gives to this sector and to the promotion of quality, inclusive and universal education as a fundamental human right. She referred to the progress made by Cuba in this field, despite the persistence of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against the country by the United States government for more than 60 years.
In this regard, she elaborated on the negative consequences of the blockade in all sectors of the country's life, particularizing its impact on education. She emphasized on the permanent reinforcement of this anti-Cuban policy and the especially harmful repercussion of the unjustified inclusion of Cuba on the arbitrary list of States supposedly sponsoring terrorism.
Against this backdrop, she thanked UNESCO for its support and cooperation, and highlighted the work and activism of the Organization's Regional Office in Havana.
On the other hand, the Representative of Cuba recognized UNESCO's leadership in the coordination and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 on education, and assured her country's support for the Organization's efforts and initiatives for its materialization. She recalled, in this context, the Meeting of Ministers of Education of the Group of 77 and China, held in Havana under the Cuban Presidency of the group, in which a Final Declaration was adopted reaffirming the commitment to the promotion of education and the role of cooperation in that sense.
Recognizing Ms. Giannini's virtual participation in the University 2024 event, the Cuban official reiterated the invitation to visit Cuba and participate in the International Pedagogy 2025 Meeting.
Finally, both parties agreed to continue strengthening links and exchanges between Cuba and UNESCO in the Education Sector.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to UNESCO