Geneva, 06 March 2025. Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations at Geneva, held today a fruitful and pleasant meeting with Mr. Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre, at the organization headquarters in this Swiss city.
During the exchange, the Cuban representative highlighted the significant work carried out by the South Centre, whose research and analyses, renowned for their high quality, are made available to the 54 developing-country members of the Centre, including Cuba.
The studies undertaken by the South Centre cover a wide range of issues on the international agenda, including topics under discussion at the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Human Rights Council, among others, thereby contributing to shape unified positions for Southern countries in various international forums.
The Executive Director of the Centre expressed gratitude for Cuba's active and constructive participation as a member country of the organisation, as well as its significant and influential presence in debates and negotiations conducted in multilateral forums.
Both parties exchanged views on the current international situation and agreed on the need for Southern countries to further strengthen the alignment of their positions in a context where the multilateral system and its institutions are under serious threat.
Benítez Verson conveyed his appreciation for the studies conducted by the Centre on the violations of the UN Charter and International Law resulting from the United States' unilateral and extraterritorial policy of economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba. These violations also stem from the arbitrary inclusion of the Island in the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism issued by the US government.
The Cuban Ambassador extended congratulations to the Director of the South Centre and his team on the occasion of the institution's 30th anniversary, which is being celebrated in 2025.
The South Centre is an intergovernmental organisation that provides technical advice and conducts research to strengthen the capacity of countries and institutions of Southern countries in multilateral negotiation processes.
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