In a meeting with more than 1,100 solidarity activists, trade unionists, and representatives of leftist organizations from 58 countries at the Havana-based Conference Center, the diplomat updated the intensification of the economic siege and the discrediting campaigns against Cuba.

Fernández de Cossío explained that his country bases its international relations on principles and seeks respectful relations with all countries globally.

Such relations, he pointed out, are based on values such as the defense of sovereignty and the right to self-determination, solidarity, and proletarian internationalism, “as Cuba has historically demonstrated with significant quotas of sacrifice, sharing what it has, not what is left over.

This includes the defense of peace and respect for international laws and the United Nations Charter.

In the face of the US attempts to isolate Cuba, this country promotes the development of the broadest possible economic and commercial relations and strengthens ties with its nationals living abroad.

That breadth is expressed in the fact that Cuba maintains diplomatic relations with all countries except the State of Israel, with which it broke off ties in September 1973 in solidarity with the Palestinian people, the diplomat recalled.

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