Paris, January 23, 2026. – During the commemorative ceremony for the 67th anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cuba to UNESCO, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, delivered a speech highlighting the solid history of collaboration, common values, and shared commitment to effective multilateralism between Cuba and the Organization.
A central point of her address was the acknowledgment of UNESCO's "sustained support for the Cuban people's battle against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade," through its annual contribution to the UN Secretary-General's report. This support, she stated, "is of cardinal importance in the face of the unprecedented intensification of the US government's policy of hostility and aggression against Cuba, as well as Cuba's continued inclusion on the spurious US unilateral list of State Sponsors of Terrorism."
The ceremony, which included the presence of the Cuban Minister of Finance and Prices, Vladimir Regueiro Ale, the Cuban Ambassador to France, members of the accredited diplomatic corps, and UNESCO officials, served to reflect on a partnership dating back to 1947, the year the Island became a Member State.
Ambassador Herrera Caseiro emphasized that these relations "are historic and have been strengthening over the years," reaching an excellent level following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. This strengthening, she noted, is based on "the alignment of UNESCO's values and principles with the profoundly humanist social project" led by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, whose centenary is being commemorated this year.
In her remarks, the Cuban diplomat recalled emblematic high-level meetings that have marked this bond, such as Fidel Castro's presence and speech before the UNESCO Executive Board in 1995, as well as the visits of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz in 2016 and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez in 2018 and 2023. She also highlighted the numerous visits to Cuba by UNESCO's Directors-General and senior officials throughout history.
The Ambassador enumerated concrete achievements of this cooperation, including:
- 9 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List.
- 8 expressions declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- 5 documents included in the Memory of the World Register.
- The sponsorship of 2 International Prizes awarded by UNESCO.
She also expressed sincere gratitude for the implementation of significant cooperation projects in Cuba and, in a special way, for the immediate assistance provided by UNESCO following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the country's eastern region.
The Ambassador reaffirmed Cuba's commitment as an active member of the Organization and, in particular, of its Executive Board, to promote and strengthen UNESCO's mandate. In the face of attempts to erode multilateralism, she concluded, "Cuba will continue to be a firm ally of UNESCO in promoting and defending shared values for the benefit of all the world's peoples."
The event served as a reaffirmation of the bonds of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation between Cuba and UNESCO, based on a shared vision of peace, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue.