Derry, November 15-16, 2019. The Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, Hugo René Ramos Milanés participated in the Sinn Fein National Conference, on which occasion he was invited to give a speech before the plenary.
The ambassador recalled the recent commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Ireland, and that precisely during those days took place the first official visit to Ireland of the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who ratified the will of Cuba of developing broad collaborative relationships in all possible sectors and found a good receptivity on the part of the Irish authorities.
The Cuban diplomat stressed that during the visit there was an opportunity to celebrate an emotional encounter with Irish friends of Cuba, among them several leaders of Sinn Féin participated. On that occasion, the President expressed our deep gratitude for fraternal friendship and sustained solidarity, particularly in favor of the international claim to end the criminal Yankee blockade against the Cuban people.
Ramos Milanés stressed that the United Nations General Assembly for the twenty-eighth time has just approved with 187 votes in favor the resolution that requires the US government to end that blockade.
He denounced that this has been a year in which the Trump administration has taken numerous actions to intensify this blockade and to internationalize it after the application of Title III of Helms Burton Act, which allows legal claims against companies that conduct business with Cuba. After listing some of the sanctions applied, he stressed that in the course of the last year the economic damage amounts to more than 4 300 million dollars, a figure that exceeds foreign investment in Cuba. While in the course of 60 years the accumulated economic damage amounts to more than 138 billion dollars. The Cuban people have been deprived of resources that would have allowed their GDP to grow at 10% per year.
He also highlighted the multiple efforts that united Government and Cuban people undertake to make the economy more efficient and capable of generating additional wealth for popular welfare.
Referring to the situation in Latin America, the ambassador recalled that in nations such as Mexico and Argentina progressive forces have won the elections and constitute a hope in front of right-wing and neoliberal governments that have impoverished their peoples and are the real responsible for millions of people in the continent are in the streets demanding changes.
The coup in Bolivia is just the latest evidence of the aggressiveness of Yankee imperialism and the oligarchies, who struggle to maintain their privileges and resort to fascist repression and murder.
Faced with pessimistic omens, the Cuban ambassador recalled that the release of former President Luis Ignacio Lula is an obvious sign that it is possible, people can win their battles. The struggle of the peoples and social movements in Latin America against fascism and neoliberalism may be hard and long, but no doubt the peoples will win.
Ramos Milanés stressed that Cuba ratifies its solidarity with the peoples of the region, with the peoples of Venezuela and Nicaragua that resist imperialist aggression in the front line.
The solidarity of Cuba with all the peoples and movements that at any latitude defend their sovereign rights and self-determination cannot be intimidated, it is priceless. It is unwavering, as is the will of the Cuban people to defend the Socialist Revolution.
The Sinn Féin national conference adopted a motion that greets the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and its successes. It ratifies the demand to the United States government to put an end to the economic blockade and demands the return of the territory occupied by the Guantanamo base.
Public attending the National Sinn Fein Party Conference
Mary Lou Mc Donald, president of Sinn Féin, gives the Cuban ambassador an allegorical painting on the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.
Cuban diplomats - along with foreign guests at the Sinn Fein conference - pay tribute to Martin McGuinness, a party leader and Republican fighter.
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