Statement on Cuba
On May 15th, 2024, the Secretary of State of the government of the United States announced that he had removed Cuba from the list of countries that, according to the United States, “do not fully cooperate in the fight against terrorism.” Nevertheless, the United States continues to include Cuba in its list of countries that are so-called “state-sponsors of terrorism”. The contradiction between these documents shows the completely arbitrary nature of these lists and of how the U.S. government unilaterally categorises countries according to its own geopolitical interests in the Latin American and Caribbean region, rather than due to any objective criteria, or any genuine desire for “human rights”.
In fact, it should be noted that the continuous inclusion of Cuba in the list of countries that supposedly are “state-sponsors of terrorism” directly impedes Cuba’s access to international institutions, global markets and global trade, which in turn causes economic isolation of Cuba and shortages on the island. It undermines the ability of Cuban people to enjoy their rights as a sovereign nation, as well as to safeguard their human rights. The International Tribunal against the US blockade on Cuba, which took place at the European Parliament in November 2023, concluded that the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. on Cuba violates International Law, in particular the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the international agreements of the World Trade Organization. In addition, the judges noted that the collective nature of the punishment directed towards Cuba violates the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966, and may also constitute the crime of genocide, according to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
In April and May of 2024, delegates from the Communist Party of Norway and the Young Communists in Norway visited Cuba in order to learn about the struggles experienced by the Cuban people in the face of the criminal blockade. The delegates noted that the Cuban people experienced severe hurdles due to the blockade, such as the inability to import raw materials or goods for every sector of the industry, inability to secure investments and financing for local, national and international projects, as well as inability to conduct economic, cultural and scientific cooperation with other countries, including the U.S. itself.
In exchanges with citizens of the United States, representing a wide variety of social organisations, trade unions and political parties, the delegates also learned that the U.S. blockade of Cuba is very unpopular among the American people. Many city councils, state legislatures and country boards have passed resolutions urging the U.S. government to end the blockade on Cuba. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of response from the federal government.
The Communist Party of Norway and the Young Communists in Norway unequivocally condemn the illegal U.S. blockade of Cuba and Cuba’s inclusion in the list of states that allegedly are “state-sponsors of terrorism”. We consider these measures as an entirely baseless and hostile act of collective punishment on the Cuban people, which constitute violation of international law. The Communist Party of Norway and the Young Communists in Norway will continue our long-standing work within Norway, as well as cooperation with Cuban and international organisations, in order to bring about an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba and to remove Cuba from the list of countries that are so-called “state-sponsors of terrorism”
Runa Evensen, Leader of the Communist Party of Norway
Paulius Eidukas, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Norway, and Deputy Leader of the Young Communists in Norway