A press conference was held at the Nâzım Hikmet Cultural Center featuring Kemal Okuyan, leader of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP); Nahide Özkan, President of the Turkey–Cuba Friendship Association “José Martí”; and the Consul General of Cuba in Istanbul, Raúl Ernesto Madrigal Cárdenas. During the event, a broad national solidarity campaign with Cuba to be carried out across Türkiye was officially announced.
In his remarks, Kemal Okuyan underscored the importance of strengthening solidarity with the Cuban people at a time of maximum pressure from the United States government, which, he stated, continues to intensify its policy of economic suffocation against the island. In this context, he announced plans to launch a major nationwide campaign in support of Cuba, aimed at mobilizing political, social, trade union, and youth organizations throughout the country.
For her part, Nahide Özkan addressed the current situation in Cuba and the effects of the tightening of the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade. She highlighted joint initiatives developed by the Friendship Association and the TKP, including the collection of signatures from Turkish artists and intellectuals in support of Cuba; the organization of mass events in various cities to raise public awareness about Cuba’s situation; and humanitarian aid campaigns to gather supplies for shipment to the island.
In his statement, the Consul General of Cuba denounced the genocidal and illegal nature of the blockade imposed on Cuba, in clear violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. He stressed that this policy has taken on an even more criminal dimension following the executive order signed by the President of the United States on January 29, aimed at further intensifying economic pressure measures against the country. He also expressed gratitude for the firm solidarity shown by the Turkish people and acknowledged the sustained commitment of friendly organizations in defending Cuba’s right to sovereignty and development free from external interference.
The conference was attended by representatives of Anka, NTV, Cumhuriyet, Yön Radyo, Habertürk, CGTN Türk, Birgün, Onlar TV, Harici, soL Haber, soL TV, İletişim Emekçileri Dayanışma Ağı, Tele2, Yeniçağ, and Paraanaliz.com, ensuring wide dissemination of the messages conveyed.