The president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, Fernando Gonzalez Llort, assessed as very positive the actions of the Movement of Solidarity with Cuba in 2022, and acknowledged that in this 2023 the struggle against the criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States more than six decades ago and for removing the country from the spurious list of countries sponsoring terrorism, which unleashes more sanctions, will continue.
"The members of those groups have remained very active, they have reacted favorably to the economic situation we are experiencing, despite the difficult circumstances for themselves," said the Hero of the Republic of Cuba at a press conference in Havana.
In his words, he referred to the enormous challenges within an extremely complex international scenario, with limited resources, risks and threats, due to the rising cost of living, the dangers of the pandemic outbreak and the political complexity of today's world.
He said that solidarity with Cuba, both from those grouped in different organizations and from sympathizers and Cubans living abroad, achieved important successes and their activism was much higher in 2022 having as a reference the previous two, both from the presential and from the different digital platforms. "A great sense of moral, ethical and political commitment was noted," González Llort assured.
He recalled that a campaign in favor of anti-COVID vaccination was carried out in the world for the Greater Antilles and millions of syringes were sent. "It is important for us to make the people involved in those efforts understand why Cuba cannot, like any other country, go to the market and buy the necessary medical supplies to carry out a massive vaccination. Behind each one of those syringes was the conscience for the lifting of the blockade".
He thanked for each one of those donations, which also arrived after the disasters that occurred in 2022, such as the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, the fire at the Supertanqueros base in Matanzas and the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in Pinar del Río.
"We are aware that the donations do not come from a company with great resources, but from individuals, simple workers who donated part of their salaries, and they did it with the greatest love in the world and that is what is valuable for us," said the executive, who added that the solidarity donations will never solve the material problems of the country, but they are of extraordinary help.