Paris, 20 February 2026.— In a cordial atmosphere, the Director-General of UNESCO, H.E. Dr. Khaled El-Enany, met on Friday, 20 February, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. The meeting took place against an international backdrop marked by complex challenges for Cuba and the world, as well as for multilateralism, the United Nations system and peace—an assessment shared by both senior officials.
The Cuban Foreign Minister underscored UNESCO’s role as a central institution within the multilateral system, bearing significant responsibility in shaping a more just and sustainable future. He recalled the historic ties between Cuba and the Organization, strengthened through the convergence of principles and priorities in key areas such as education, science, culture, and communication.
On behalf of President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the Minister conveyed congratulations to the Director-General on his election to the post, acknowledged his leadership of the Organization, and reaffirmed Cuba’s support for his mandate and its willingness to further strengthen cooperative ties.
For his part, Dr. El-Enany expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to him during his visit to Cuba last year in the context of his campaign and highlighted the courtesies shown by Cuban authorities and institutions. He conveyed his willingness to return to the Island and emphasized UNESCO’s priority focus on children and youth, as well as on Small Island Developing States, a category to which Cuba belongs.
The Director-General outlined the actions being carried out in the country through UNESCO’s Regional Office in Havana, ranging from resource mobilization to socio-emotional support in disaster situations, as demonstrated following Hurricane Melissa. He also referred to UNESCO’s recent international appeal aimed at mobilizing funds to support Cuba’s education sector in the current circumstances.
During the exchange, the Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed at length the severe damage inflicted upon the Cuban people as a result of the hostile policy of the United States Government against Cuba and the continued tightening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the country for more than six decades.
He denounced, in particular, the recent maximum-pressure measures contained in the Executive Order signed by the President of the United States on 29 January, which—under the unfounded pretext that Cuba represents an “unusual and extraordinary” threat to United States national security—seek to impose a total restriction on fuel supplies to the country through direct coercion against third States maintaining legitimate commercial relations with Cuba.
The Minister further outlined the measures adopted by the Cuban Government to address this situation, emphasizing those aimed at ensuring the continuity of the education system—from primary and secondary schooling to higher education—as well as safeguarding the health sector, sustaining scientific development, maintaining access to laboratories, connectivity, and the country’s technological capacities, despite the severe constraints imposed by the intensified blockade. In this context, he underscored the value of international solidarity and reiterated the need to expand cooperation in order to confront current challenges.
The Director-General acknowledged the resilience of the Cuban people and reaffirmed UNESCO’s readiness to continue working with Cuba through its various platforms and cooperation mechanisms.
Both parties agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation in strategic areas, particularly education, including the promotion of sustainable energy solutions such as the installation of solar panels in schools.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to deepen ties between Cuba and UNESCO in defence of multilateralism, international cooperation and the right of peoples to development.
Also participating in the meeting were the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Cuba to UNESCO, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro; the Chief of Staff of the Minister, Nelson Tamayo Caro; and Laura Alvarez Delgado, official of the Permanent Delegation. The Director-General was accompanied by Mr. Dov Lynch, Director of External Relations of the Organization, and Ms. Joyce Monteiro, Head of the Latin America Unit of the Sector for External Relations.