05/31/2021
Enrique Moreno Gimeranez
At the planetary level, numerous legislatures, parliamentary groups, organizations, entities and individuals are demanding intensely these days the elimination of the blockade against our country, a criminal policy that demonstrates its much more genocidal nature in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dimitrios Papadimoulis, griego, member of Syriza party and Vice President of the European Parliament, kindly answered our questions on this issue and on various aspects of interest, including interparliamentary relations with Cuba.
–For more than six decades, the Cuban people have suffered the imposition of the economic, commercial and financial blockade by the United States Government, which has worsened in times of COVID-19. What is your position?
–The economic sanctions imposed on Cuba by the United States seriously affect the country's development potential and inhumanely affect the standard of living of the Cuban people. The suffocating US embargo imposed since 1960 (more than 60 years) is an anachronistic and inhumane practice, condemned every year for decades, almost unanimously by the UN General Assembly. It has to stop now and the new Biden administration must take concrete action in this direction!
"The European Union (EU) could play its role as an honest intermediary between Cuba and the United States, to resume the dialogue, initiate the normalization of relations between the two countries and, ultimately, lift the sanctions."
–Cuba has sent brigades of health professionals to various regions of the world, including Europe, to contribute to the fight against the pandemic. How do you rate this gesture?
–The scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic has posed an immense challenge worldwide and also for Cuba. The efforts of the Cuban people to combat the pandemic have been significantly limited by the United States blockade, which has deliberately deprived the Cuban people of access to supplies necessary to manage this disease (to the extent that the Trump administration identified the pandemic as an opportunity to tighten the siege against Cuba).
«However, Cuba, in response to the requests received, sent 56 medical brigades of the International Contingent“ Henry Reeve ”to 40 countries and territories. This was not just a symbolic gesture, but a clear solidarity movement of the Cuban people with developing countries around the world. The world and especially Europe should be aware of this initiative! "
- How can the European Union-Cuba cooperation be strengthened in the fight against the pandemic?
- I firmly believe that, in general, the EU should continue to promote dialogue, cooperation, political openness and mutual understanding with Cuba. The fight against the pandemic is a common fight, beyond ideologies and political calculations. The EU has taken concrete initiatives (such as COVAX) but still lags behind in other aspects, such as patent exemption. No one can fight the pandemic alone. The EU should help Cuba in matters related to the pandemic and the exchange of opinions at the medical and scientific level should be intensive.
- What role should parliamentarians play in the fight against COVID-19?
–The objective of parliamentarians should be to build bridges of dialogue at all levels, including at the inter-parliamentary and intergovernmental level and with civil society. I believe that with mutual respect and cooperation we will achieve more, not only in the fight against the pandemic, but in general.
'It is also important to find ways to improve the cooperation of members of the European Parliament with national parliaments around the world. I would like to underline our important initiative for patent exemption by MEPs, which has strongly influenced the dialogue on this issue and has attracted the support of many countries, parliamentarians, academics and civil society around the world. The global community is now seriously discussing this lawsuit! "
–In your opinion, what is the importance of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement signed between Cuba and the European Union for the strengthening of relations between our country and the European Parliament?
–The Agreement between the EU and Cuba is an important step in the consolidation and strengthening of relations between both parties in the fields of political dialogue, cooperation and trade, in addition to promoting understanding by fostering dialogue between Cuba and the countries of the EU at all levels. Now, we should all work to produce concrete results within these frameworks. The European Parliament should be at the forefront of these efforts.
- How do you assess the current interparliamentary ties?
–I am sure that there is room for improvement in our interparliamentary dialogue. The members of the Group of Friendship and Solidarity with the Cuban People in the European Parliament, of which I have the pleasure of being a member, is an important step in that direction. However, both parliaments should be vehicles for a reinforced dialogue and for intensifying contacts, to really get to know, understand and respect each other.
- What message do you send to the Cuban people?
–I would like to express my total solidarity and respect for the Cuban people and underline my personal commitment to improve dialogue and understanding between the EU and Cuba.
“I firmly believe that the inhumane US embargo against Cuba, for political reasons, should cease. He did not deprive the Cuban people of their commitment, dignity, and self-respect. I support the Cuban people in their struggle, hoping that they prosper and have the same opportunities for development as all the peoples of the world. The Cuban people deserve no less! "
Video: https://youtu.be/oUG454sntkw
Video: https://youtu.be/oUG454sntkw