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Cuban Solidarity

Message from President Raúl Castro Ruz and Fidel Castro Ruz to Prime Minister of Greece

Message from Raúl to Prime Minister of Greece
The President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba congratulates compañero Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister of Greece, on the ‘NO’ victory achieved in the nationwide referendum held July 5, 2015
Author: Granma | internet@granma.cu
july 6, 2015 09:07:24
Havana, July5, 2015

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Esteemed Prime Minister:
I extend to you my most sincere congratulations on the ‘NO’ victory achieved in the referendum held in Greece, July 5, 2015
This result demonstrates the majority support of the Greek people for the courageous policy of the government over which you preside.
I reiterate the assurance of my highest consideration.

Raúl Castro Ruz
President of the Councils of State and Ministers
of the Republic of Cuba
Compañero Alexis Tsipras
Prime Minister
Hellenic Republic

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current situation facing the country

Author: Fidel Castro Ruz | internet@granma.cu
july 7, 2015 09:07:51
Hon. Mr. Alexis Tsipras
Prime Minister of Greece:

I warmly congratulate you for your brilliant political victory, details of which I followed closely through the channel TeleSur.
Greece is very familiar among Cubans. She taught us Philosophy, Art and Sciences of antiquity when we studied at school and, with them, the most complex of all human activities: the art and science of politics.
Your country, especially your courage in the current situation, arouses admiration among the Latin American and Caribbean peoples of this hemisphere on witnessing how Greece, against external aggression, defends its identity and culture. Nor do they forget that a year after Hitler’s attack on Poland, Mussolini ordered his troops to invade Greece, and that brave country repelled the attack and drove back the invaders, forcing the deployment of German armored units towards Greece, diverting them from the initial target.
Cuba knows of the bravery and the fighting capacity of the Russian troops, which, together with the forces of their powerful ally the People’s Republic of China, and other nations of the Middle East and Asia, always try to avoid war, but would never allow for any military aggression without an overwhelming and devastating response.
In the current political situation of the world, where peace and the survival of our species hangs by a thread, every decision, more than ever, must be carefully thought-out and applied, so that no one may doubt the honesty and seriousness with which many of the most responsible and serious leaders struggle today to confront the calamities that threaten the world.
We wish you, esteemed compañero Alexis Tsipras, the greatest of success.
Fraternally,

Fidel Castro Ruz
5 July, 2015
8:12 p.m.

Cuba / US Relations

A guide to the complex road to normalization between Cuba and the United States

CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND VIENNA CONVENTIONS
A guide to the complex road to normalization between Cuba and the United States

After more than five decades of broken diplomatic ties, it is difficult to find recipes that do not repeat past mistakes

Author: Sergio Alejandro Gómez | internet@granma.cu
july 3, 2015 12:07:33

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Photo: Russia Today

After more than five decades of broken diplomatic ties, it is difficult to find recipes that do not repeat past mistakes

For two countries which have lacked formal ties for more than half a century, it is very difficult to find recipes on how to build a new relationship that do not repeat past mistakes.
But since the Presidents of Cuba and the United States announced their intention to open a new chapter in their complex bilateral history, there exists an indispensable set of references regarding the way forward: the Charter of the United Nations and International Law, in particular the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.
Army General Raúl Castro Ruz mentioned these himself during his speech on December 17 and ratified as such in important speeches including that of the 3rd CELAC Summit and the 7th Summit of the Americas.
The issue was included in the rounds of talks held between Cuban and U.S. diplomats to polish the details of the final agreement announced Wednesday, July 1, on the reestablishment of relations and opening of embassies.
In the letters exchanged between Obama and Raúl, the commitment to implement these principles, once the Cuban flag is again flying in Washington and the U.S. in Havana, is noted.
The UN Charter is the constituting instrument of the Organization and determines the rights and obligations of Member States. It also establishes its bodies and procedures.
The Charter was signed on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, at the end of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on October 24 of that year. It was the result of four years of intense work with the view to avoid new wars that would put humanity on the brink of annihilation.
Among the principles and purposes are the defense of sovereign equality, the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State and non-intervention in matters of domestic jurisdiction.
Similarly, the Charter promotes friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and the self-determination of peoples, cooperation in solving international problems and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all.
For its part, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations entered into force on April 18, 1961, while the Convention on Consular Relations became valid from April 24, 1963.
Both Cuba and the United States have signed these documents, which were drafted within the UN to regulate a practice that is as old as man himself.
While the Conventions are based on very specific points, at the same time they establish that the customary norms of international law continue to govern any questions not expressly addressed.
“Customary international law (…) is nothing more than the practices of international subjects that are generally accepted by them as Law,” Rodolfo Dávalos, professor at the University of Havana and president of the Cuban Court of International Commercial Arbitration, told Granma.
In order that any practice is admitted as Law, it is necessary for this repetition of acts to be generally accepted, uniform, repeated over the course of time and based on a legal conviction, he adds.
In other words, the professor explains, no practice outside the framework of the functions of diplomatic missions as established by the Vienna Convention may be lawful unless it is covered by customary international Law, and this does not cover any illicit act, contrary to the norms of the receiving State.
The diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States have had no solid reference in over a century, especially after the U.S. intervention in the War of Independence, but compliance with the basic principles established for all nations, can help lay the foundation for progress in this long and complex road to the full normalization of relations.
Some articles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations:
Article 3
1. The functions of a diplomatic mission consist inter alia in:
a) representing the sending State in the receiving State; b) protecting in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and of its nationals, within the limits permitted by international law; c) negotiating with the Government of the receiving State; d) ascertaining by all lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving State, and reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State; e) promoting friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations.
Article 27
3. The diplomatic bag shall not be opened or detained.
4. The packages constituting the diplomatic bag must bear visible external marks of their character and may contain only diplomatic documents or articles intended for official use.
Article 41
1. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.
3. The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State.

Cuba and US Relations

Statement by the Revolutionary Government With the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with the United States,

Statement by the Revolutionary Government
With the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with the United States, the lifting of the blockade, among other issues, will be essential to the ultimate normalization of relations

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Author: Granma | internet@granma.cu
july 1, 2015 12:07:23

ON July 1, 2015, the President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, and the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, exchanged letters through which they confirmed the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations between the two countries and open permanent diplomatic missions in their respective capitals, from July 20, 2015.
That same day, the official opening ceremony of the Embassy of Cuba in Washington will be held, in the presence of a Cuban delegation led by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and composed of distinguished representatives of Cuban society.
By formalizing this step, Cuba and the United States ratified the intention to develop respectful and cooperative relations between both peoples and governments, based on the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and International Law, in particular the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.
The Government of Cuba has decided to reestablish diplomatic relations with the United States in full exercise of its sovereignty, invariably committed to the ideals of independence and social justice, and in solidarity with the just causes of the world, and reaffirming each of the principles for which our people have shed their blood and ran all risks, led by the historic leader of the Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz.
With the reestablishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies, the first phase concludes of what will be a long and complex process towards the normalization of bilateral ties, as part of which a set of issues will have to be resolved arising from past policies, still in force, which affect the Cuban people and nation.
There can be no normal relations between Cuba and the United States as long as the economic, commercial and financial blockade that continues to be rigorously applied, causing damages and scarcities for the Cuban people, is maintained, it is the main obstacle to the development of our economy, constitutes a violation of International Law and affects the interests of all countries, including those of the United States.
To achieve normalization it will also be indispensable that the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo Naval Base is returned, that radio and television transmissions to Cuba that are in violation of international norms and harmful to our sovereignty cease, that programs aimed at promoting subversion and internal destabilization are eliminated, and that the Cuban people are compensated for the human and economic damages caused by the policies of the United States.
In recalling the outstanding issues to be resolved between the two countries, the Cuban Government recognizes the decisions adopted thus far by President Obama, to exclude Cuba from the list of state sponsors of international terrorism, to urge the U.S. Congress to lift the blockade and to begin to take steps to modify the application of aspects of this policy in exercise of his executive powers.
As part of the process towards the normalization of relations, in turn, the foundations of ties that have not existed between our countries in all their history will need to be constructed, in particular, since the military intervention of the United States 117 years ago, in the independence war that Cuba fought for nearly three decades against Spanish colonialism.
These relations must be founded on absolute respect for our independence and sovereignty; the inalienable right of every State to choose its political, economic, social and cultural system, without interference in any form; and sovereign equality and reciprocity, which constitute inalienable principles of International Law.
The Government of Cuba reiterates its willingness to maintain a respectful dialogue with the Government of the United States and develop relations of civilized coexistence, based on respect for the differences between the two governments and cooperation on issues of mutual benefit.
Cuba will continue immersed in the process of updating its economic and social model, to build a prosperous and sustainable socialism, advance the development of the country and consolidate the achievements of the Revolution.
Havana, July 1, 2015

Mandela, The Cuban Five

The Five on Robben Island: A tribute to Mandela

The Five on Robben Island: A tribute to Mandela
Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando and René visited the island where Mandela was imprisoned and paid tribute to his example of the triumph of human spirit over adversity

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Author: Deisy Francis Mexidor | internet@granma.cu
june 25, 2015 12:06:55

The Five toured the prison when Nelson Mandela was held by the apartheid regime for 18 years. Photo: Prensa Latina
ROBBEN ISLAND, South Africa.—A sign in English and Afrikaans announces arrival on Robben Island, situated off the coast of Cape Town, a site which encompasses a painful history, thankfully now past for South Africans.

The island of dry sand and strong winds, surrounded by sharp reefs and the unique sound of the thousands of birds that fly overhead, is today a symbol of freedom.

To get there, you have to board a boat at the Nelson Mandela memorial located in the commercial and tourist district of Waterfront.

The journey is about 12 kilometers, a half hour boat ride, enough to reflect on the triumph of human spirit over adversity encompassed by this historical site.

Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González, the Five Cuban anti-terrorists who themselves were greatly inspired by the spirit of resistance of Prisoner No.46664, Nelson Mandela, during their imprisonment in the U.S., traveled to the island as part of their tour of South Africa.

Mandela spent 18 of the 27 years that the apartheid regime kept him imprisoned on Robben Island.

Accompanied by Ahmed Kathrada, who was also imprisoned alongside Mandela, the Five toured the historical site that was opened as a museum on January 1st, 1997 and declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999.

Certain areas are usually off-limits to tourists, but Kathrada provided the Five with access to Mandela’s cell, a small, damp and unimaginable space.

They studied the iron bars through which only hands could pass, the blanket on the floor that was all Mandela had for a bed, the bench and a small window.

Each of them looked, touched the walls and tried to take an almost photographic image with their own eyes. It was a private moment of reflection. No questions were required.

Then, as they gathered to take a photo, Fernando noted the date: “Today is June 23. In 2001, 14 years ago, the Comandante en Jefe (Fidel Castro) said we would return (to Cuba).” Meanwhile, Gerardo wrote in the guestbook on behalf of the Five: “It has been a great honor to visit this place together with some of the brave compañeros of Nelson Mandela.”

The message continued, “all of them were a source of inspiration and strength for the Five Cubans to withstand the more than 16 years in U.S. jails.”

Gerardo stressed that this was a legacy that “the Five will honor for the rest of our lives.”

CUBAN ANTI-TERRORISTS RECEIVED BY SOUTH AFRICAN PARLIAMENT

CAPE TOWN.—Members of the African National Congress (ANC) in the South African parliament received the Five during their visit to the legislative capital of the country.

The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, said that the Five are an inspiration across the world.

In exclusive statements to Prensa Latina, Tsenoli highlighted the example of resistance that these men provided whilst in U.S. prisons, where they remained confined for an extended and unjust period of time.

The legislator also stressed the contribution of Cuban solidarity to the African cause, a sentiment that is continuously repeated.

Since their arrival on June 21, when they were welcomed by ANC Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe, the Five have had the chance to talk with the leadership of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP).

They were also warmly welcomed by members of the Society of Friendship with Cuba in South Africa (FOCUS) and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL), who did so much to secure their release.

The visit by Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando and René will conclude on July 3 and forms part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter.

According to their busy schedule, they will travel this Thursday, June 25, to the province of Gauteng to complete their tour of five of the nine South African provinces.

The Five then continue on to Namibia and conclude their tour of Africa in Angola, where three of them (Gerardo, Fernando and René) served as internationalist fighters.