Main results of Cuban Foreign Policy in 2016

The battle against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba was maintained as a priority of the Cuban diplomacy. 

 

October 26, 2016, for twenty consecutive fifth time, it was approved in the Assembly General of the of the United Nations (UN), the resolution promoted by Cuba against the blockade by 191 votes in favour, no vote against and only abstentions by the United States and Israel, which constituted a milestone in the history of this resolution, since its approval for the first time in 1992, and confirmed the absolute international rejection of this policy.

 

In 2016, it was continued to expand and deepen bilateral relations with 194 States with which Cuba has diplomatic relations. In the year visited Cuba 80 Heads of State, 15 Vice Presidents or Prime Ministers, and 37 Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

 

The physical disappearance of the Commander in Chief of the Cuban revolution Fidel Castro Ruz, on November 25, 2016, shocked Governments, parliaments, parties, political forces, international and social organizations, personalities and friends of Cuba throughout the world. His tireless dedication to the most noble causes, the defense of the rights of the countries of the third world and its perennial concern for the preservation of human life on the planet, motivated countless signs of solidarity and support. 134 delegations from 78 countries, including 31 heads of State or Government, 8 Vice Presidents or vice Prime Ministers and 12 ministers of foreign affairs were present at his funeral ceremony.

 

In 2016, multiple exchanges were carried out in political-diplomatic areas  with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, such as the meetings of the mechanism of consultation policies of Cuba with Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Uruguay, Dominican Republic and Guatemala.

The President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Raúl Castro Ruz, attended the signing of the Final peace agreement in Cartagena, Colombia, result of nearly five years of negotiations in Havana. There is a clear recognition for the parties of the role of Cuba as guarantor and the headquarters of this process. Cuba was also designated as guarantor and rotating seat in the dialogues of peace between the Government and the ELN

 

The first Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, attended the ceremony of commemoration of the III anniversary of the sowing of the Commander Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and the acts by the 37th anniversary of the Sandinista in Nicaragua revolution. For his part, the Vice President of the Council of State Salvador Valdes Mesa attended to takes possession of the Presidents of the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.

 

The interim President of Haiti Jocelerme Privert during his stay in Cuba for the 7th Summit of the AEC, held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Raúl Castro, and with the President of the National Assembly of the Popular Power, Esteban Lazo, occasion in which it was exchanged about cooperation and the bonds of friendship existing between the two countries. It was ratiffied that Cuba will maintain its cooperation.

 

It was held in Havana the Act of solidarity with Venezuela and by the 12th anniversary of the ALBA, with the presence of the Presidents of Cuba and Venezuela.

 

For 2016, friendly relations with the countries of Asia have been consolidated through the strengthening of political dialogue, bilateral economic ties and mutual support in the multilateral field.

 

High-level delegations were welcomed in Cuba during the period, among them are official visits by the Prime Ministers of China and Japan, as well as the Presidents of Mongolia and Viet Nam. On the Cuban side, stood the visits of the first Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel to Japan and Vice President Marino Murillo to Singapore. Similarly, the tour's Vice President of the Council of State Salvador Valdes Mesa by China, DPRK, Viet Nam and Laos, as a Special Envoy to report on the results of the VII Congress of the CCP, contributed to strengthened  the party linkages with the socialist countries of the region.

 

Meanwhile, relations between Cuba and sub-Saharan Africa maintained the high level that has historically characterized those ties. It was received a recognition from  the African Union for the contribution of Cuba to battle against the epidemic of Ebola.

 

In the year, five new African embassies (Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Seychelles and Niger) were opened in Cuba. Cuba opened its embassies in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

 

The Vice-President of the Council of State, Salvador Valdes Mesa, visited Botswana, Uganda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe; whereas the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, visited Guinea, Niger and Congo.

 

In the region of North Africa and the Middle East, ties with the Algerian Republic were strengthened during the visit to Cuba of the Prime Minister of that country, Abdelmalek Sellal, when they signed several agreements in the areas of health, production of medicines and education. It was also held this year the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Commission between Cuba and Algeria.

 

Our relations with Iran continued to strengthen, mainly following the visit to Cuba of the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, when it was signed several agreements for cooperation in health, research, education, production of drugs and medical technology.

 

There were kept the positive links with the State of Qatar, stressing cooperation in the field of health with the presence in that country of 460 collaborators. The visit to Qatar by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, contributed to the strengthening of bilateral ties and allowed to continue the high level political dialogue between the two Nations.

 

It was maintained the excellent political exchange with the State of Palestine. During the stay of Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al - Malki at Havana, Cuban Foreign Minister ratified the solidarity and the support of Cuba to the Palestinian cause and the inalienable rights of their people.

 

Official visits to Moscow of the first Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, and the President of the National Assembly of the Popular Power, Esteban Lazo Hernández were produced in the framework of our excellent relations with Russia.

From Russia, were received in Havana the visits of the Minister of education and science, the President of the Supreme Court, the Attorney-General and the Chairman of the State Duma.  In addition, it was signed the new Plan for the triennium 2017 / 2019 for the mechanism of political consultations between foreign ministers Serguei Lavrov and Bruno Rodriguez.

 

As an expression of the ties of friendship between the two peoples, the five Heroes took part in the celebrations in Moscow for the anniversary of the victory over fascism.

 

The Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, his Holiness Kirill, made his first pastoral visit to Cuba as Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, in whose context a historic meeting was held in Havana with the Pope Francisco, in which was shown the positive State of relations of Cuba with the two churches.

 

Similarly, with the meeting held between first Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel and high level political figures of Belarus, there was the continuity to the excellent relationship with that country. Also, should be highlighted the visits President of the Assembly National of the Popular Power, Esteban Lazo and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Rogelio Sierra to Serbia. In addition, the President of Kazakhstan arrived visit Cuba at the beginning of last year.

 

Canada was reaffirmed as a main partner for Cuba, in economic - commercial terms and it has been consolidated as the first issuer of tourists. Political ties progressed significantly with the stay in Cuba of the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, in Ottawa. In addition, There were visits to Cuba of the Prime Minister of the province of Quebec and the Minister for small business and tourism, who headed the delegation to the FITCUBA international tourism fair, in which Canada was the guest of honor country.

 

After nearly two years of negotiation, was signed the agreement on political dialogue and cooperation between Cuba and the European Union, with the presence of Minister Bruno Rodríguez, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, and foreign ministers and other senior officials of the twenty-eight Member States.

 

In this way, it ended the unilateral common position and opened a new chapter in our ties with the community block, on a basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual respect.

 

Previously, the High Representative Mogherini and Minister Bruno Rodríguez, held the seventh session of dialogue political Ministerial Cuba-Union European, where it was initialized the agreement. The European Commissioner for development and international cooperation was also present in Cuba.

 

The second session of the bilateral dialogues with the European Union on human rights, was held in June 2016 in Havana, and Cuba's willingness to respectful and unconditional exchange on this issue was ratified. The participating delegations were guided by the interest of promoting spaces for the exchange of views, expand the knowledge of the respective realities and explore possibilities of bilateral cooperation and multilateral settings, on issues where there is common ground. Significant differences were found, and the Cuban side expressed its concerns about the exercise of human rights in European countries, in particular the situation of refugees.

 

In a general sense, our bilateral relations with the countries members of the EU advanced, it should be highlighted the historic visit of President Raúl Castro Ruz to France and of other Cuban leaders to Germany, Slovakia and Spain. The Presidents of Austria and Portugal and the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Greece were welcomed in Havana. They were significant, in addition, visits of the German Federal Deputy Foreign Minister and the Foreign Ministers of Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg and United Kingdom.

 

In relation with the United States, significant advances in the areas of dialogue and cooperation, facilitated by the restoration of the diplomatic relations in 2015 were recorded in 2016.

 

In March 2016, President Barack Obama, accompanied by five members of his Cabinet, with 39 members of Congress, held official talks with President Raúl Castro in Cuba. Other 19 high-level visits took place in both directions. Three meetings of the Bilateral Commission were held.

There were signed 19 bilateral instruments, of them 16 cooperation on issues of common interest. By virtue of these agreements, there were 44 technical meetings and actions of cooperation in a variety of areas. In parallel, 21 meetings took place in the context of the established dialogues on bilateral and multilateral affairs . 

 

U.S. eliminated "feet wet dry-foot" policy and the Cuban medical professional Parole Program and renewed the registration of the Havana Club trademark in the United States. However, in order to move towards the normalization of bilateral ties, continued unresolved key issues as the elimination of the blockade and the return of the territory occupied by the US Naval Base in Guantánamo.

 

In October 2016, was held the second dialogue on human rights between Cuba and the United States. Even though the exchange confirmed deep differences between the two Governments regarding the concepts and the exercise of human rights, Cuba reiterated its desire that both countries can relate civility within the recognition and respect for these differences, and address any issue within a framework of equality and reciprocity. The Cuban side confirmed their concerns with the exercise of human rights in that country, particularly with respect to poverty, the right of women to equal pay, deaths and discrimination against people of African descent by the police and the limitations on access to health and education. Also it was expressed with regard to violations of the right of peoples to peace, development and self-determination.

 

In the field of regional organizations, stands the celebration of the IV Summit of the community of Latin American and Caribbean (CELAC) in Ecuador. In the meeting it was reaffirmed the backing of the community to the immediate lifting of the blockade of the USA against Cuba.

 

Our country took the pro tempore presidency of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) on the occasion of the twenty-first ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers of the organization. Havana was host VII Summit of this regional organization.

 

Cuba attended, as observer , the 26TH Summit of Heads of State of the African Union, held in Ethiopia in January 2016. The Cuban delegation was headed by Vice President of the Council of State Salvador Valdés Mesa. On that occasion, for the seventh consecutive time and by unanimity, a resolution was passed calling for the lifting of the blockade.

 

In the multilateral sphere, stands the election of Cuba at the Human Rights Council for the period 2017-2019, in which was the country of the region with more votes of the region, with 160 votes. This constitutes recognition of the international community to the prestige of the country in the field of human rights. At the proposal from Cuba, the Council adopted, at its 32nd ordinary session in June 2016, the "Declaration on the right to peace", which reaffirms the recognition of this right to all human beings and all peoples. In December, the UN General Assembly endorsed the Declaration at its 71st ordinary session. That action sent a message of hope to millions of people who want to live in a world of peace, peaceful coexistence among Nations, cooperation and international solidarity.

 

At the General Assembly of the United Nations, obtained the approval in October of a resolution which calls, for the first time in history, to negotiations on a Convention of prohibition of nuclear weapons that must start in 2017. 

 

From 17 to 18 September, was held in Isla Margarita, Venezuela, the 17TH Summit of the Movement of Non-aligned Countries where this country assumed the Presidency of the movement. The Cuban delegation, headed by the President of the Councils of State and Ministers Raúl Castro Ruz, contributed significantly to the success of this important forum of political coordination of the countries of the South.

 

During the celebration of the 6th General Assembly of the Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural heritage of UNESCO, Cuba was elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of the aforementioned Convention, for the period 2016-2020.

 

President Raúl Castro Ruz held a meeting of February 2, 2016 with Ms Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, as part of his visit of State to France. The Exchange confirmed the excellent ties between Cuba and the Organization.

 

Cubans residing abroad, present in 76 countries, are grouped into 153 associations, who maintain a permanent activism in support of Cuba and in particular against the blockade. There were national meetings of Cubans resident in United States, Canada, Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Czech Republic, Turkey, Austria, Belarus, Angola, Namibia, Ghana, Qatar and Iran. In addition, in Portugal, it was held a regional meeting in Europe.

 

As part of the follow-up to the agreements on migration issues, in 2016 were migratory rounds with Ecuador, Panama, Honduras, Colombia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Canada, Guyana, Switzerland and Venezuela.

 

In 2016 was recorded in the country increased accreditation of journalists in transit, for a total of 4387 journalists of 1088 international media from 81 countries.

 

In the academic field, the higher Institute of International Relations "Raúl Roa García" (ISRI) organized the XII seminar international ISRI 2016, which counted with the participation of Cuban and foreign researchers. Also prominent intellectuals and representations from 23 countries from all continents and foreign as well as Cuban students attended.

 

The Center of Research on International Policy, attached to the ISRI, held various academic events, including the 12th Conference of American studies, with the participation of 27 foreign researchers from 17 countries, the fifteenth workshop "Cuba in US foreign policy", in which 44 papers were presented: 29 U.S. academics and Cuban-born residents in the United States and 15 of Cuban academics; and the Workshop on the Thought of the Commander in Chief and the Foreign Policy of the Cuban revolution.

 

Cuban civil society made its contribution to Cuban foreign policy and the denunciation of the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba. It was highlighted the celebration of the 13th Forum of organizations of the Civil Cuban society. The event was attended by, among others, representatives of 145 entities. Those present at the Forum adopted a Final Declaration against the blockade.

 

(Cubaminrex)