Dear M. Lassina Zerbo,
Delegates and guests,
Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the Symposium for the possibility to share some Cuban experiences and perspectives on scientific diplomacy with you.
In our opinion this is a concept which is closely linked to the relations of peace among countries as its main feature is to use science and apply it to promote, improve and strengthen the ties among societies not to destroy the world and the human race.
This means that science should enhance the international policies and establish new communication channels among peoples. The scientific diplomacy constitutes a way to encourage cooperation in science, technology and innovation in accordance with countries ‘development which is especially significant for the developing countries.
To Cuba, the only nation that faces a tight economic, commercial, and financial blockade for more than 55 years, the scientific diplomacy has contributed to counteract the intentions of isolating the country and preventing us from development.
Today we have diplomatic relations with 195 States which has constituted a potential to increase our scientific collaboration with all regions of the world.
The main fields of cooperation that have been and continue to be the emblems of our scientific diplomacy are: health, biotechnology, education, and sport. Other prioritized areas are environment, social sciences and humanities and basic sciences.
Regarding health it is important to highlight that the medical collaboration began in Algeria in 1963. Since then 407 thousand Cuban health specialists have provided their services in 164 countries of all continents and more than 11 thousand young people from 126 nations have studied medicine in Cuba.
In 2005 “Henry Reeve” Contingent was created. It is composed of doctors specialized in disasters situations and serious epidemics. They have provided technical assistance to more than 3 million people and have saved more than 80 thousand lives. More than 200 doctors of this Contingent were in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone fighting against Ebola epidemic.
The work of these specialists is supported by crucial scientific outcomes reached in the country, particularly, in biotechnology, and the medical and pharmaceutical industry. Besides, these results have allowed us to transfer technologies of Cuban biotechnological products towards eight (8) countries among them Brazil, Algeria, China, India, and Vietnam.
Between 2002 and 2015, Cuban teachers made more than 8 million adults literate in more than 20 countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa by means of “Yo sí puedo” teaching method.
The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment of Cuba has at present, more than 25 international agreements signed with its counterparts in 16 countries with regard to scientific collaboration. Among them, we can mention the five (5) agreements with the US in the field of environment which were signed as part of the re-establishment of the diplomatic relation in 2014.
We should remark that the antecedents of this collaboration were the scientific exchanges which were modestly made after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 between Cuba and US. They led to the signing of other MoUs for collaboration in natural sciences and environment among science academies, universities and research centers of both nations.
In 2017, even though the scenario changed, and there was a setback in the bilateral relations, four (4) joint marine scientific expeditions and a significant scientific exchange action in the field of seismology were carried out.
Dear delegates,
Now more than ever, this type of diplomacy has a particular importance. The challenges that define the 21st century such as nuclear disarmament, climate change, food security, and poverty reduction have scientific dimensions. No country will be able to solve these problems by itself; those are global troubles which require global solutions and collaboration.
In his already legendary speech before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz affirmed and I quote, ”Use science to achieve sustainable development…”, end of quote.
That is why, it is extremely necessary to give science an even more outstanding role when creating international policies, as a catalytic tool of world peace and development.
Once again, I appreciate so much the chance to have the floor and I reiterate Cuba´s willingness to continue using scientific diplomacy to put science in the service of mankind.
thank you.
(Embacuba Austria)