Italy´s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi arrived Tuesday evening in Havana following an invitation made by President Raul Castro during his visit to Rome in May.

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said in New York that the negative vote by the US against the Cuban resolution demanding the lifting of the economic blockade on the island does not fit in Washington´s discourse about working to lift the siege and described the event as disappointing.

Cuba opened a training course for experts with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)in subjects related to mitigation of disaster risks in the event of natural phenomena.

Matteo Renzi, President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, sent greetings to the Cuban people upon his arrival in this capital on Tuesday for an official visit to Cuba.

Mr. President;
Distinguished Permanent Representatives;
Esteemed Delegates;

On December 17 last year, the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, recognized that the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against Cuba had failed, is obsolete, has not met the originally envisaged goals and causes damages to the Cuban people and isolation to the US Government.

Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, today renewed the complaint of Cuba that the unjust and cruel policy of economic, financial and commercial US blockade continues despite statements by President Barack Obama saying is obsolete and should be removed.
Full text of Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at United Nations on the neccesity of lifting the US blockade of Cuba

Members of the United Nations (UN) in New York today reaffirmed support for the Cuban claim of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed for more than five decades, which limits normal development of its people.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) today reiterated its rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, at the beginning of today's debate in the General Assembly UN, underway in New York.

UN representatives highlighted negative effects of the blockade to Cuba

Debates at UN General Assembly on US blockade on Cuba start

The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) began this morning in New York the discussion of the draft resolution that urges the United States to lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

Close to 10 million people have learned how to read and write by way of the Cuban literacy teaching method for adults Yes, I Can, which has been implemented in 30 nations since 2002.

South African Vice-president Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Cuba for its support in the struggle for the overthrow of apartheid in his country, solidarity currently extended to other sectors for the development of the African nation.

The Cuban Council of State, at the proposal of its President Raul Castro, agreed to accept the resignation submitted by Interior Minister Army Corps General Abelardo Colome due to health reasons.

The President of Italy´s Council of Ministers Matteo Renzi is paying an official visit to Cuba on Tuesday.

Vietnam´s deputy Defense minister Do Ba Ty kicked off an official visit to Cuba on Monday, whose first activity was an homage to Independence Hero Antonio Maceo at his Mausoleum to the west of the Cuban capital.