Nicosia, Cyprus, September 4, 2026.- The Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Cyprus, Mr. Rubén Pino Martínez, was received this Friday by his counterpart, the Hon. Ambassador of Japan in Cyprus, Mr. Satoshi Iwasaki, during a courtesy visit at the premises of the Japanese diplomatic mission in this capital.
During the meeting, the Cuban diplomat thanked his Japanese counterpart for the kindness and honor of receiving him, while also acknowledging his close and friendly relationship with the Cuban diplomatic mission since his accreditation in Nicosia as head of the Japanese embassy, in line with the shared commitment to continue strengthening our diplomatic ties.
Pino Martínez shared updates with his Japanese counterpart about the difficult economic situation currently facing the Caribbean island, as a result of the illegal blockade, the hostile and ongoing policy of economic suffocation, and the energy siege imposed by the U.S. government against the largest of the Antilles. He went into detail about the impact and human cost of that policy, which has unimaginable consequences for 21st-century Cuba, stemming from the latest executive orders and sanctions applied over the past seven months against the island, as evidence of the collective punishment currently imposed on an entire nation.
The Cuban diplomat's gratitude also implied the recent support granted by the Japanese government to Cuba last July, when at the United Nations General Assembly, it was among the 136 nations that cast a positive vote to authorize the urgent debate requested regarding the economic, financial, and commercial blockade that has affected Cuba for more than six decades.
In recent years, Cuba and Japan have strengthened their bilateral ties across various areas. In light of the accelerated implementation process that Cuba is undertaking for its energy transition strategy toward renewable sources, with particular interest and priority in installing innovative technologies in sectors such as health and energy, among others, Japan has been collaborating on certain projects with the Cuban government, together with its Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro, this year, the Cuban ambassador gifted his counterpart a photographic review of the heartfelt visit that the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution made to Japan in March 2003, with images recalling his meeting with the authorities of that nation, an opportunity in which he fulfilled his dream of visiting Hiroshima and paying tribute to the victims of that tragedy.
At that time, when Fidel visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, he wrote: “The profound impact of the genocide against civilians in Hiroshima on us cannot be adequately expressed with words or in time (...) May such barbarity never happen again.” Fidel Castro.
In this way, he expressed his condolences to the victims of the atomic bomb and reaffirmed his conviction that this tragedy should never be repeated. When offering his floral tribute on site, Fidel asked that the following phrase be inscribed in his dedication: "To the innocent victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki."
A reminder of their unwavering support for global peace, nuclear disarmament, and the right of people to live free from the nuclear threat, with commitment to multilateralism.
Embassy of Cuba in Cyprus.