Good evening and welcome dear colleagues from the United Nations,
We are here today to display for you and the world a group of modern pieces of artwork in the form of posters. These are the winners and the best projects of an international Poster Contest launched in May by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Design Office of Cuba.
The contest was aimed at promoting the connection of the world of design and visual arts with Cuba’s legitimate claim for the end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade which the United States Government continues to enforce against the Cuban people. That is precisely the reason why the title of this exhibit is: “#UnblockCuba”.
Designers, artists and students from Cuba and other countries participated in the contest. More than 100 entries of artists from 8 countries were received. These are the works that best display what the 55-year-old blockade against Cuba means to the Cuban people and the world.
The first prize was awarded to Liz Capote Alonso, from Cuba, who used child-like graphic codes in order to transmit, through serenity and tenderness, the resistance and strength of our people in facing this unjust policy.
The US Blockade remains in force and continues to cause suffering to the Cuban people and undermine the economic development of my country. This is a unilateral coercive policy that is fully implemented and has continued to be strengthened.
Despite the repeated calls by the international community every year right here at the UN, the blockade continues to prevent Cuba from freely importing and exporting to and from the US, hindering our economic and commercial relations with the rest of the world, and keeping us from conducting international financial transactions in US dollars.
This policy, which is a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of the Cuban people, also violates the rights of the American people by preventing them from traveling to Cuba or doing business with the island.
Before all of you can enjoy this exhibit, which has been organized with the support and love of its creators and of the Cuban people, allow me to reaffirm that Cuba will continue to call for the end of this policy in all international forums.
That is why, on November 1st, we will present once again for the consideration of the General Assembly the draft resolution under agenda item 42 entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”.
This evening, as we invite you to be delighted with our exhibit, we also kindly demand all of you, representatives of the peoples of the world, to provide us with further support as you have traditionally done for so many years, in this struggle that will only end when the US Government removes unilaterally and unconditionally this cruel policy, which rather than isolating us, has only served to make our small island a country of sovereignty, dignity and solidarity.
Thank you very much, and enjoy the exhibit!
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.