The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, expressed his deep gratitude to the African heads of state and government for adopting a resolution condemning the U.S. government's blockade and the inclusion of the island on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
"Their courage is even greater in these times of brutal attempts by the U.S. to energetically suffocate our entire people," he posted on social network X, in response to the firm stance reaffirmed by the African Union (AU).
Deep gratitude was expressed from Cuba to African heads of state and government for adopting a resolution condemning the U.S. government's blockade and the inclusion of the island on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
"Thank you for this show of solidarity, following the executive order that seeks to block our oil supplies and suffocate the entire Cuban people," wrote Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, member of the Party's Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on social media in response to the firm position reaffirmed by the African Union (AU).
The bloc has passed 17 consecutive resolutions against the economic blockade, and this is the third time it has highlighted the arbitrary nature of the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to Prensa Latina.
According to the Cuban Embassy in Ethiopia, African leaders expressed concern about the worsening negative effects of Washington's embargo, especially in the current context, when Havana still faces significant economic and social challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also denounced the extraterritorial scope of this policy, including the application of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which reinforces restrictions and extends their consequences beyond U.S. borders.
The resolution reaffirms, once again, the deep historical, political, and solidarity ties that unite the peoples of Africa and Cuba, and constitutes a clear expression of support for the elimination of this measure, which they consider unfair, illegal, and contrary to the principles of international law and the sovereignty of states, reported PL.
OPEN LETTER FROM U.S. ARTISTS, POLITICIANS, AND ORGANIZATIONS
Artists, intellectuals, and activists such as Jane Fonda, Ed Harris, Indya Moore, Roger Waters, Tatiana Maslany, Alice Walker, Susan Sarandon, Mark Ruffalo, Kal Penn, Vic Mensa, and Boots Riley are among the signatories of the open letter "A Call to Conscience: Stop Donald Trump's Cruel Attack on the Cuban People."
The text, which describes the U.S. president's executive order as a deliberate act of economic warfare aimed at strangling an entire population, is available at letcubalive.info and has also been endorsed by the Answer Coalition, The People's Forum, IFCO Pastors for Peace, Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), and the 50501 collective, and also by Cuban troubadour Silvio Rodríguez.
It has also been endorsed by academics from Yale, Duke, NYU, and Columbia; and more than 20 members of the New York City Council, including Alexa Avilés, Tiffany Cabán, and Shekar Krishnan, along with state legislators.
This policy is unacceptable, the letter states, "Cuba poses no threat to the United States. Subjecting a population to hunger is not diplomacy; it is a form of terrorism."
Such actions by the Trump administration, it explains, are nothing more than a cynical and crude ploy to distract public opinion from the nation's internal problems.
"We," the signatories emphasize, "along with millions of people in the United States and around the world, reject this inhumane act against the Cuban people."
The letter states that the consequences of the new Executive Order will be measured in human suffering and calls on "all people of conscience to reject this cruelty and demand an immediate end to the blockade."
Trump must conduct his foreign policy in accordance with the wishes of the American people, the document adds, and in accordance with international law.
"We, the American people, want to have normal relations with Cuba, treat it with equality and respect, and most importantly, see Cuba and the Cuban people as our neighbors and not as our enemies. Long live Cuba! Cuba is not a threat!"
