The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, participated to the 6th CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting, which took place in Guyana last June 14. In his speech, reiterates the Cuban´s permanent commitment to cooperate and share its modest achievement with the Caribbean. “We feel we have a permanent debt of gratitude with CARICOM for its historical and fraternal support to Cuba. The courageous attitude of the first four independent Caribbean nations, which was soon followed by all the others once they managed to achieve their independence, will never be forgotten. Cuba and the Caribbean have developed strong historical relations. The CARICOM-Cuba mechanism has decidedly and effectively contributed to strengthen our relations”. The Minister also emphasize the commitment of Cuba with the region as a Zone of Peace, as was stated in the Proclamation approved by the Heads of State and Government at the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held in Havana. “Only integration and in a climate of mutual respect and confidence shall we prosper as a region.” He also reiterates the Cuba´s gratitude for rejecting the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba and the fair claim to put an end to it.
At the conclusion of the meeting was adopted the declaration affirming that the Caribbean is an inseparable part of Our America, and highlighting the role of CARICOM in the regional integration process; reaffirming the importance of the CELAC as a mechanism for political consultation and promotion of the unity and integration of our region, determining to continue to strengthen the CARICOM-Cuba mechanism, based on deep historical roots and founded on solidarity, cooperation and complementarity. It calls on the international community, in its relations with the CELAC to endorse the tenets of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and that recognizes, among others, the inalienable right of every State to choose its political, economic, social and cultural system as an essential condition to ensure peaceful coexistence among nations. Also rejects the imposition of unilateral coercive measures and, in that context, call for an immediate and unconditional end to the blockade imposed by the US against Cuba, especially, to its extraterritorial nature and the financial persecution of Cuban transactions. Furthermore, it was reiterated the endorsement of the principles of international law as well as our strongly-held view that economic development and stability in the Caribbean region contribute to international peace and security. Finally the declaration recognizes the cooperation between CARICOM and Cuba in areas such as health, human resource development, construction, sports, and disaster risk reduction and mitigation has effectively contributed to the development and well-being of our peoples. In this regard, it was reaffirmed the commitment to continue promoting the implementation of projects to improve air and sea ports, infrastructure and connectivity between our countries and broaden our economic and trade relations through the implementation of the Revised Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement between CARICOM and Cuba.
As part of its agenda, the Cuban Minister visited the “Regional Centre for Development Stimulation of Children, Adolescents and Youth with Special Educational Needs Associated with Disabilities”, project developed by CARICOM and Cuba.