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From people to people, solidarity

Taken from the X account of President Miguel Díaz-Canel 

The aid received, in the midst of the energy contingency, from the organization The People’s Forum, was highlighted by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who also stressed that solidarity also comes from the American people.
The Head of State highlighted the remarkable contribution of this group’s donation of one hundred electric generators in ten days, for which he thanked its members and called them brothers.
He assured that this equipment will benefit hospitals, polyclinics and other public service institutions in Guantánamo, Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana.
“Cuba is a beacon of hope for the peoples of the world. We will always be with our neighbors!” he had written in The People’s Forum, in X.
Recently, the third shipment arrived in the largest of the Antilles, with 54 electric generators, for places affected by the recent hurricanes.

Executive Committee of Casa de Las Americas

 

Today, we gather to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Arnaldo Goenaga Barron, a steadfast Cuban revolutionary.

Arnaldo’s unwavering dedication to the Cuban Revolution began as leader of the Orthodox Party of Cuba in NYC. He invited Comandante Fidel Castro to meet with him in NYC. On October 15, 1955 Arnaldo welcomed Fidel into his home, forging a historic partnership. During his 15 day stay they worked on a plan to organize the different sectors of the Cuban Diaspora in order to unite them into one organization. On October 28, 1956 the July 26 Movement is established in NYC and it was led by Comandante  Arnaldo Goenaga Barron.

As leader of the July 26 Movement in NYC, Arnaldo successfully united Cuban diaspora groups. His tireless efforts secured vital support for the revolution.

For decades, Arnaldo stood alongside Cuba, earning recognition with the prestigious Friendship Medal, presented by Ricardo Alarcon, President of the Cuban Parliament and certified by the Honorable President Raul Castro Ruz. In his speech the president of the parliament said Barron was  “someone that is inseparable to our history “ He also said, “Barron is a combatant, revolutionary, Cuban of the old vanguard”. The ceremony was held in Havana, Cuba in July of 2012. Many other persons of distinction from the government, his wife Gloria and son Arnaldo, members of Casa de las Americas of NYC and friends were  present.

We remember Arnaldo for his longstanding struggle, support and defense of the Cuban Revolution before and after 1959. He was a champion of justice, unity and Cuban sovereignty. His legacy inspires future generations.

Gloria eterna para nuestro amigo el muy querido Comandante Barron.

 

 

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, demonstrated the cruel effects of the US blockade

Photo: Cubaminrex

“For five days, from Friday 18 to Wednesday 23 October, Cuban families were deprived, except for a few hours, of electricity, with the anxiety that food would spoil and it would not be possible or very costly to replace it, and many of them lacked running water.” This is how Cuba’s Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla began his speech before the UN General Assembly, referring to those recent moments when the country’s electro-energy crisis reached a peak, following the disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN).
“Hospitals operated under emergency conditions and schools and universities suspended classes. Entities interrupted their activities and only the vital ones were maintained. The economy came to a halt,” he told the plenary.
In addition, during the blackout, Hurricane Oscar hit the eastern part of the country on October 20 and, despite the efforts of the Cuban Civil Defense, eight people died, including a five-year-old girl, while two are still missing. Satellite photos showed the country to be in darkness and, in addition, subjected to heavy rains and winds.
The diplomat emphasized that, in spite of such conditions, the serenity, understanding and support of the people, who, together with 52,000 workers in the electricity sector, worked with the different organizations to restore stability to the country, was impressive.
“The primary cause of the failure of the National Electric System was the lack of fuel, which affected generation and caused instability associated with the precarious state of our plants, both direct consequences of the extreme measures of economic warfare applied by the US Government since 2019, specifically designed to prevent supplies of fuel, and of parts and pieces for technical maintenance to our plants and electrical facilities, as well as to hinder investment and access to financing,” denounced the Chancellor.
Electricity generation in our nation is highly dependent on imported fuels, and in just one year, the previous U.S. government sanctioned 53 ships and 27 companies associated with shipments to Cuba, he said.

Continue reading Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, demonstrated the cruel effects of the US blockade

Argentine FM fired over Cuba vote

Argentine FM fired over Cuba vote

Diana Mondino voted in favor of ending the US embargo against the island nation
Argentine FM fired over Cuba vote

Argentine President Javier Milei has fired Foreign Affairs Minister Diana Mondino after she supported a resolution to lift the US embargo on Cuba at the UN General Assembly.

The move was announced by Milei’s office in a press statement. While the statement did not directly link Mondino’s dismissal with the UN vote, it was released shortly after it and included a lengthy description of the administration’s position on Cuba.

“Argentina is going through a period of profound changes… our diplomatic corps should reflect in each decision the values of freedom, sovereignty and individual rights that characterize Western democracies,” the statement read, adding that the country “is categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship” and “will remain firm in promoting a foreign policy that condemns” regimes such as this. Milei’s office also warned that it will conduct an audit of the Foreign Ministry’s staff in order to root out “promoters of agendas hostile to freedom.”

Mondino was one of Milei’s first confirmed cabinet members and his top ally during last year’s presidential campaign. She will be replaced with Gerardo Werthein, who had been the ambassador to the US.

Earlier on Wednesday, the UN once again called on Washington to end its decades-long sanctions regime on Cuba in a non-binding resolution. An overwhelming majority of 187 countries voted in favor of the move, while only the US and Israel voted against it, with Moldova abstaining.

Milei has repeatedly pledged to align his country’s policies with those of the US since taking office in December 2023. He has also distanced the country from Cuba, as well as Nicaragua and Venezuela, accusing their leaders of being “despicable dictators.” Under Milei, Argentina has formally rejected an invitation to become a member of the BRICS group of nations, in a U-turn from the policy of his predecessor, Alberto Fernandez.

Argentina, Latin America’s third largest economy, is in the grip of a severe economic crisis after decades of mounting debt and financial mismanagement. An estimated 55% of the country’s population lives below the poverty line, while inflation is among the highest in the world.

The ‘shock therapy’ reforms announced by Milei when he took office and aimed at stabilizing the economy have so far been unsuccessful, as Argentina’s economy sank deeper into recession in the second quarter of this year, with GDP plunging by 1.7%, according to government data.