Cuban Parliament President Addresses Russian Lawmakers

Havana, Nov 30 (ACN) The president of the Cuban National Assembly of People’s Power (Parliament) Esteban Lazo Hernandez addressed on Wednesday lawmakers at the Federation Council (Senate) of Russia’s Federal Assembly.

Lazo appreciated the opportunity to address the legislative body and recalled the close relationship between Russia and Cuba, according to the website of the Cuban Parliament.

He explained Russian lawmakers about the complex economic and global scenario facing his country and went on to denounce the strengthening of the US economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba.

Lazo described of cynicism the inclusion of Cuba in the unilateral and illegal US blacklist of countries sponsors of terrorism, which is drawn up by the US Department of State and which “should be headed by the United States.” He said the blacklisting of Cuba hampers and restricts the island’s international relations in the financial field.

“They insist in destroying the example of Cuba, which proves that a better society and that a socialist system based on social justice is possible,” he noted.

However, he said all this is met by the Cuban people’s creative resistance along the support and solidarity of friends of Cuba from around the world.

Lazo took the opportunity to extend his gratitude to the upper chamber of the Russian Federal Assembly for the donations sent to assist Cuba as well as for the systematic support of the island’s struggle for the lifting of the US blockade.

Also president of the Cuban Council of State, Esteban Lazo briefed the Russian parliamentarians about the update of Cuban economy based on a national plant of economic and social development up to the year 2030, and called on regions of the Russian Federation to take active and effective participation in the plan.  

“We consider it crucial that Russian companies actively participate in investment projects in Cuba based on the huge opportunities offered by the island’s Foreign Investment Law and the Mariel Special Development Zone,” he stressed.

As to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Lazo strongly rejected the unilateral sanctions imposed on Russia by western governments in general and in particular by the United States. He also ratified that Cuba backs a negotiated solution to the conflict, which takes into account the interests of all parties including Russia.”

The Cuban Parliament president reiterated the significance of expanding exchange between the two legislative bodies and the willingness to hold the first bilateral inter-parliamentary meeting when both parties consider it appropriate.