Cuba is Grateful to Russia’s Permanent Support

 

Havana, Nov 22 (ACN) Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel spoke at Russia’s State Duma (lower chamber of parliament) and extended the lawmakers his gratitude for their permanent support of his country. 

The Cuban president was welcomed at the building hosting the Duma by its president Vyacheslav Volodin.

In his remarks Diaz-Canel said that parliamentary relations between Russia and Cuba constitute a strong pillar supporting bilateral bonds and a key element to boost and develop economic, commercial, financial and cooperation links.

The Cuban president is the first head of state to speak at a session of the Russian Duma. In the name of the Cuban people he appreciated the resolution which, for over 25 years, has been passed by the Russian legislative body demanding the end of the over-60-year economic, commercial and financial blockade of the island nation.

“We appreciate and highly value this gesture,” said Diaz-Canel and went on to explain about the complex economic scenario facing his country mainly as a consequence of external factors, including the strengthening of the US blockade, in the first place.

This add—the president noted—the economic impact by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on tourism, which is the major source of revenues of Cuba.

The President added that under such difficult circumstances, Cuba counts on the support and understanding of its closest Friends, among who is the Russian Federation and, of course, the lawmakers of the legislative body who can play a key role in boosting important projects in the economic field.

The Cuban head of state affirmed that political relations between Russia and his country are excellent, with important coincidence in main issues relevant to the international agenda and with decisive cooperation at international bodies.

However, the Cuban leader noted that both nations still have to achieve full development of economic, commercial, financial and cooperation links to take them at the same level of current bilateral political relations. He said this must be a priority; it’s a task to be undertaken by the parliaments of the two countries.

Diaz-Canel stressed that despite difficult world circumstances and amidst unfair imperialistic sanctions against the two countries, a series of bilateral cooperation projects are successfully unfolding. He mentioned a Russian company in geologic prospection and the drilling of oil wells in the Cuban locality of Boca de Jaruco; investment projects in the Mariel Special Development Zone with Russian Kamaz technology, as well as the modernization of a steel industry in Havana and a mechanical plant in the central province of Villa Clara.

Diaz-Canel also recalled the Russian humanitarian aid shipments to Cuba under the most complex COVID-19 scenario, as well as other supportive actions in tragic events like the explosion of the Saratoga Hotel in Havana and the massive fire at the oil depot in western Matanzas province, as well as the Russian cooperation Cubans had after the ravaging passage of hurricane Ian on the most western section of the island.

The Cuban president also recalled that Russia’s support was critical when the island’s medical oxygen plant broke down in the midst of the COVID-19 spread. At that point in time, Cuban intensive care units with full with patients needing oxygen, and reserves were shrinking. Russia immediately sent the product on a plane, which later kept flying to other countries of the region to keep providing the island with oxygen.

The Cuban head of state strongly condemned current sanctions against Russia describing them as unilateral and unfair.

The causes of the current regional conflict in the European zone can be found in the aggressive US policy and the expansion of NATO towards Russian borders, which Cuba has systematically denounced at international forums, the Cuban President stressed.