The Ambassador of Cuba to Türkiye, Alejandro Díaz Palacios, and the President of the José Martí–Cuba Friendship Association, Nahide Özkan, visited the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), where they held a meeting with the President of its Board of Directors, Emin Koramaz, and other members of the organization.
In addition to Koramaz, the meeting was attended by the Vice President of the TMMOB Board of Directors, Ekrem Poyraz; Executive Board members Hülya Küçükaras, Hüsnü Meydan, Yusuf Songül, and Arif Balkanay; technical officer Sezgin Çalışkan; press advisor İlda Alçay Sepetoğlu; and Burçak Özoğlu, member of the Executive Board of the Assembly of Representatives of the Turkish People.
During the meeting, participants analyzed the effects of the United States blockade against Cuba and reiterated the importance of strengthening international solidarity with the Cuban people.
Ambassador Díaz Palacios noted that the U.S. blockade against Cuba, which has been in place for more than six decades, constitutes the main obstacle to the country’s economic and social development. He explained that the recent energy crisis, aggravated by measures taken by Washington to prevent oil shipments to the island, has further intensified the effects of this policy.
He also stressed that the sanctions cause serious difficulties in essential sectors such as health care, transportation, industry, agriculture, and food production. The diplomat stated that the blockade directly affects the daily life of the Cuban people and that some regions face difficulties in accessing basic services such as drinking water and energy supply.
It was also emphasized that this policy violates international law and the principles of free trade, and was described as an act of economic warfare and a criminal policy against the Cuban people. The Ambassador recalled that, in the annual votes at the United Nations General Assembly, the overwhelming majority of countries around the world support lifting the blockade, with the opposition coming almost exclusively from the United States and Israel.
The Ambassador also highlighted the solidarity initiatives taking place internationally to demand an end to the embargo. In this regard, he mentioned the signature campaign promoted by civil society organizations and the open letter addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump, signed by 515 Turkish artists and intellectuals, which has already gathered more than 10,000 supporting signatures.
In this context, he explained that the José Martí–Cuba Friendship Association has sent letters to Turkish parliamentarians and has called on citizens to broaden support for the campaign, expressing the expectation of also receiving the institutional backing of TMMOB.
For his part, Emin Koramaz, President of the TMMOB Board of Directors, stated that the organization, faithful to its anti-imperialist identity and tradition, expresses its solidarity with the struggles of the Cuban people.
“The ideas and values that prevail within TMMOB and its affiliated chambers continue the tradition of struggle represented by Ernesto Che Guevara and Fidel Castro,” Koramaz said.
He added: “Just as we support peoples who resist imperialism, we will continue to show our solidarity with the Cuban people.”
The meeting also addressed possible joint initiatives to raise awareness among the Turkish public about the need to end the blockade and to strengthen solidarity actions. Among the proposals discussed were TMMOB’s institutional contribution to the solidarity campaign with Cuba, the possibility of providing technical support in areas related to energy production and transmission, and the potential organization of a solidarity visit to Cuba by representatives of TMMOB and its affiliated chambers.