The plenary session of the expanded format of the XVI BRICS Plus Summit, held in the Russian city of Kazan since October 22, was the propitious stage for the head of Cuban diplomacy to recount the serious effects that this unjust mechanism imposes on a small island country.
“Cuba has had to face a fierce economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by successive US governments, which has also been intensified in an extreme, unprecedented and cruel manner since 2019, even during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Rodríguez noted.
This illegal blockade was aggravated “with the infamous and unfounded inclusion of our country in the spurious list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism,” the minister explained to the audience.
Rodríguez added that unilateral sanctions have a very negative impact on the quality of life of all Cubans and cause severe humanitarian damage, shortages and suffering.
In this regard, he commented that the absence of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at this important event has its roots in the complex energy scenario that Cuba has been going through for five days, aggravated mostly by the impossibility of acquiring fuel and supplies to repair power plants.
He explained that all this is the result of Washington’s financial persecution. “It is a direct consequence of the extreme economic warfare measures implemented by the US government since 2019, specifically designed to prevent fuel supplies, and parts and pieces for technical maintenance and investment,” he added.
In just one year, the US government has penalized 53 vessels and 27 companies, he explained. The foreign minister noted that the deprivation of financial resources and the impediments to bank transfers due to the blockade, as well as difficult weather conditions for navigation and unloading ship to ship, as is often imposed on us, has generated the conditions for the disruption of the supply chain.
“The consequences have not been even more serious thanks to the selflessness of the 52,000 workers in the power sector, engineers and managers; the conscious participation and popular mobilization in support of the recovery; the complete citizen’s tranquility and the effective leadership of the Government,” he emphasized.
The head of Cuban diplomacy took advantage of the meeting, which was attended by more than 20,000 participants from 36 countries, including 22 heads of State or Government, to express his gratitude for the numerous displays of solidarity and offers of cooperation.
“The dignified, victorious and creative resistance of the Cuban people has received the encouragement and support of many of the countries gathered in this room, and the backing of the international community, a gesture that we deeply appreciate,” the foreign minister stated.
The XVI BRICS Summit concludes on October 24 in the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, under the premise of strengthening multilateralism for fair global development and security.
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