Speaking at the opening of the 19th European Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba, the executive affirmed that the beleaguered island deserves the political and economic support of Europeans to preserve and perfect its economic and social model.

All the organizations present here has a rich history of solidarity with Cuba.

Let us share our experiences and decide on joint actions. Today we must increase economic support in strategic sectors such as health, food, renewable energies and tourism, he stressed.

On the first day of the forum, which attracts approximately 300 delegates from a hundred associations from almost 30 countries, Fernández addressed the consequences of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington on the island for more than six decades.

Such hostility was condemned for the 32nd time at the UN General Assembly that demanded its lifting.

Cuba is going through an unprecedented economic crisis, the causes of which are well known: the economic blockade and the extraterritorial sanctions applied by the United States, he denounced on behalf of several French associations.

In that sense, he warned that no country has the right to try to starve a nation as a way to impose a regime change.

The future of Cuba is not decided in Washington, Miami nor Brussels.

In its fight for life, Cuba deserves our political and economic support, he insisted.

The president of CubaCoop urged European organizations to join efforts in the search for financing to promote socio-economic cooperation projects in the Caribbean Island, one of the topics to be discussed during the two-day sessions of the XIX Continental Solidarity Meeting.

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