Cuba at the XVII Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network
Paris, 23 June. On 23 and 24 June, the French town of Enghien-les-Bains is hosting the XVII Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), under the theme: “Culture and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of UNESCO Creative Cities.” Cuba is actively represented in this Network through Havana and Santiago de Cuba, as Creative Cities of Music, and Trinidad, as a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.
The official opening ceremony of the Conference was presided over by the host city's mayor, Philippe Sueur, who highlighted Havana's participation as a Creative City of Music, marked by the performance of young Cuban pianist Malva Rodríguez González in the iconic Rose Garden of Enghien-les-Bains. Cuba was represented throughout the various dialogue spaces by Indira Fajardo, President of the Cuban Institute of Music.
US aggression against Iran must be stopped
Havana, June 22nd. The threat of a direct US aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, spurred by the genocidal government of Israel became true, following the dastardly bombings against the nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Cuba strongly condemns these grave acts that represent a perilous escalation of the Middle East conflict and a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law.
Cuba Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
Paris, 21 June. On 20 June, Cuba joined the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, right after the conclusion of the 10th Conference of Parties.
Cuba stood out in the artistic programme with the participation of Cuban and Caribbean artists, under the artistic direction of renowned Cuban musician Roberto Fonseca, who presented the project Banda Transcultura, a living expression of the diverse, inclusive, and mestizo spirit promoted by the Convention.
As part of the celebrations, Havana will also host a commemorative concert on 28 June, at the Covarrubias Hall of the National Theatre of Cuba. The event will feature acclaimed pianist Aldo López-Gavilán and the Amadeo Roldán Jazz Band, conducted by maestro Jorge Sergio Ramírez, in a true intergenerational encounter that celebrates the dialogue between tradition and modernity.
The Denunciation of the Blockade at the Center of Cuba's Call for Connectivity Guarantees in Meetings of the Parties to the 2005 Convention
Paris, 20 June. During the debates surrounding the approval of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Parties to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Cuban Delegation emphasized the importance of ensuring the full participation of all Parties, especially in exceptional circumstances in which meetings can only be held virtually.
Cuba's argument was reinforced with a clear denunciation of the consequences of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States government against Cuba, which seriously hinders the country's access to basic technological platforms for virtual participation. "To illustrate the particular case of our country, victim of an unfair and prolonged blockade, we can share the difficulties we face in accessing platforms commonly used by other States, such as Zoom, which is regularly used even by this very Organization," the Cuban representative stated.
President of the Cuban Institute of Music Received by Secretary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Paris, 20 June. As part of the activities carried out by Ms. Indira Fajardo, President of the Cuban Institute of Music and representative of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cuba at the 10th Conference of Parties to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the official held working meetings with Ms. Fumiko Ohinata, Secretary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as with Mr. Leonardo Peredo, Project Officer of the Living Heritage Entity.
Indira Fajardo was accompanied by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Cuba to UNESCO, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, and the Third Secretary of the Cuban Delegation, Laura Alvarez Delgado.
During the exchange, Cuba’s commitment to the promotion and safeguarding of the diversity of cultural expressions was reaffirmed, and in particular, the candidacy of the practice of Cuban son as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was addressed.