Paris, September 22, 2026.- Cuba’s Ambassador to UNESCO, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, held a courtesy meeting with Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, during which the excellent cooperation ties between Cuba and the Centre were reaffirmed.
During the meeting, both parties highlighted the importance of monitoring Cuban sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, as well as opportunities to further strengthen cooperation in the conservation and protection of the country’s cultural and natural heritage.
The Cuban representative also outlined the complex difficulties currently facing the country as a result of the unprecedented intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government, as well as the energy siege that prevents the country from importing fuel from the international market. She noted that these measures directly affect the availability of material, financial and energy resources, constitute collective punishment against the Cuban people, and create additional obstacles to the management, conservation and protection of World Heritage sites. In this context, she highlighted the efforts made by national institutions to ensure the preservation of these properties despite existing limitations, and underscored the importance of strengthening international cooperation and resource mobilization to ensure the protection of Cuba’s cultural and natural heritage in the face of growing economic and environmental challenges.
The Director of the World Heritage Centre expressed his admiration for Cuba and reiterated the importance of maintaining close cooperation with the national authorities. For her part, the Ambassador reaffirmed Cuba’s willingness to continue working jointly with the World Heritage Centre.
The meeting also addressed preparations for the evaluation mission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to the Cuban Caribbean Reef System, scheduled for October 12–17, 2026. The mission will provide an opportunity to learn about the efforts undertaken by Cuban institutions to protect and conserve this valuable natural heritage, particularly the implementation of the State Plan to Confront Climate Change, known as Tarea Vida (Task Life), the work of the National System of Protected Areas, and its coordination with the Caribbean Biological Corridor.
Cuba currently has nine sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, seven of cultural significance and two of natural significance. The nomination of the Cuban Caribbean Reef System is currently under evaluation. It represents an important step in the country’s efforts to promote international recognition of its natural heritage and reaffirm its commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.