Mr. Chairman:

First of all, I would like to welcome you and wish you success in carrying out your duties as Chairman of the Group of Governmental Experts. Cuba trusts that with your knowledge, experience and diplomatic skills you will be able to guide our work effectively towards the achievement of a successful outcome.

Port of Spain, November 22nd. – The Cuban delegation of the Central Committee of the CCP, headed by José R. Balaguer Cabrera, member of the Secretariat and Head of the International Relations Department was received by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Keith Rowley. Both parties highlighted the good relations between the two governments and parties.

The Trinidadian Prime Minister reiterated his satisfaction for the successful development of bilateral ties and the willingness of his government to strengthen them in different spheres.

Tribute by EmbaCuba Thailand on the one-year anniversary of the physical disappearance of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz #LegadoDeFidel

November 25th, 2017 marks one year since the physical disappearance of Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro Ruz. The Embassy of #Cuba in Bangkok will pay tribute to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution on Friday 24/11/2017, at 10:00 a.m.

Kingston, Jamaica. November 20th, 2017.  Cuban Ambassador, Inés Fors Fernández, held a cordial meeting with former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Percival James Patterson, as part of the courtesy visits following her official accreditation to this Caribbean nation.

New York, November 20th, 2017. From November 20th to December 15th, Cuba will hold the Conference against Gender Violence, organized by the National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), together with other Cuban national institutions. The objective of the Conference is to visualize and raise awareness on gender violence, which is a social, public health and human rights problem worldwide.

The Conference will develop a series of activities, including the following courses / workshops:

Kuala Lumpur, November 20- The digital and printed edition of The Malay Mail newspaper published an article about Cuba, based on an interview with the Cuban ambassador by Dato Yew Men Lee, one of its directors and journalist last week.

Issues such as the death of the Commander in Chief, the journey of the Caravan of Freedom in 1959 and 2016 when he was returning to his origins to the Commander in Chief and the futility of the blockade were the issues addressed by the Cuban ambassador.

NASSAU, November 20th, 2017. -The Embassy of Cuba in The Bahamas recently held a cultural and political function at the Ambassador's residence to celebrate Cuba's new victory in the United Nations General Assembly against the blockade imposed by the US. Also, the 43 Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and The Bahamas was celebrated.

New York, November 20, 2017. On November 17, the US Department of the Treasury announced that the financial firm American Express Company (AMEX) will pay a fine of 204,277 dollars for the alleged violation of the blockade against Cuba.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of this federal entity announced that the sanction is related to the possible liability of the Belgian company BCC Corporate SA (BCCC) for apparent violations of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations.

Nassau, November 20th, 2017.-The Ambassador of Cuba to the Bahamas, Ismara Vargas Walter, recently made a working visit to the island of Grand Bahama, ranked second in the Bahamian territory, where she exchanged with local authorities.

During her visit, the diplomat made a courtesy call to the Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Kwasi Thompson. They exchanged on various topics of interest, in particular on the existing cooperation between both countries.

SRI LANKA, November 19, 2017.- Sponsored by the National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba of Sri Lanka, a seminar was held on Fidel's thought on "Sustainable Development, Peace and Disarmament", on the occasion of the first anniversary of the demise of the Commander in Chief.

The event was chaired by the distinguished journalist and university professor Prasanna Cooray and counted with the participation of the representatives of the organizations of solidarity with Cuba of Sri Lanka.