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February 04, 2015<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/04/our-america/">http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/04/our-america/</a><br>
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<div class="subheadlinestyle"><b><big><big>Address to the
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)</big></big></b></div>
<h1 class="article-title">Our America</h1>
<div class="mainauthorstyle">by RAUL CASTRO</div>
<div class="main-text">
<p>Ever since the inception of the Community of Latin American
and Caribbean States, Our America has entered a new stage and
advanced toward independence; sovereignty over our natural
resources; integration and construction of a new world order;
and, social justice and democracy of the people, by the people
and for the people. There is a stronger commitment to justice
and the rights of the peoples today than in any other
historical period.</p>
<p>Together, we make up the third world economy, the area with
the second largest oil reserve, and the region with greater
biodiversity on the planet with a remarkable concentration of
the global mineral resources.</p>
<p>The development of unity in diversity, and of concerted
action and respect for our differences shall be our primary
purpose and inescapable necessity because the world problems
tend to aggravate, and great dangers and robust challenges
persist that transcend the national and even the sub-regional
potential.</p>
<p>In the past decade, economic and social policies and
sustained growth have enabled our countries to face the
economic global crisis and facilitated a reduction of poverty,
unemployment and unequal income distribution.</p>
<p>The deep political and social transformations carried out in
various countries of the region have brought dignity to
millions of families, which have left poverty behind.</p>
<p>But the Latin American and Caribbean region is still the one
showing the greatest disparities. As an average, 20 percent of
the lowest income households receive only 5 percent of the
total revenues; 167 million people still endure poverty; one
in five children under 15 lives in abject poverty; and, the
number of illiterates exceeds 35 million.</p>
<p>Half of the youths in our countries fail to complete
secondary education or finish their ninth grade, but in the
lowest income segment that figure exceeds 78 percent.
Actually, two thirds of the new generation do not make it to
the university.</p>
<p>Meanwhile the increasing number of victims of organized crime
and violence endanger the stability and progress of our
nations.</p>
<p>What do the tens of millions of marginalized people think
about democracy and human rights? How do they feel about
political models? What do they think of election laws? Is this
the civil society that international governments and
organizations take into account? What would they say if asked
about the economic and monetary policies?</p>
<p>There is little that many industrial nations can show our
region in such areas since half their youths are unemployed,
and the weight of the crisis falls on the workers and students
they suppress. On the other hand, they protect bankers,
prevent the organization of trade unions, pay women lower
salaries for equal work and apply inhumane policies against
immigrants. Meanwhile, racism, xenophobia, violent extremism
and neo-fascist tendencies gain ground, and the people do not
vote because they see no alternative to corruption in politics
or because they know that election-time promises are soon
forgotten.</p>
<p>In order to achieve social inclusion and environmental
sustainability, we must come up with our own vision of the
economic systems, production and consumption patterns, the
relation between economic growth and development, and the
efficacy of political models.</p>
<p>We should go beyond structural gaps, ensure a free and
high-quality education, provide free and universal healthcare
coverage, social security and similar opportunities to all,
and the full exercise of all human rights by every person.</p>
<p>In the framework of such endeavors it shall be our primary
duty to embrace solidarity with and advocate the interests of
the Caribbean, particularly, of Haiti.</p>
<p>A new economic, financial and monetary international order is
required where the interests and necessities of the South
nations are not only included and given a priority, but also
where those imposing neoliberalism and the concentration of
capital cannot prevail.</p>
<p>The post-2015 Development Agenda should offer solutions to
the structural problems of the regional economies and produce
the changes conducive to a sustainable development.</p>
<p>Likewise, it is indispensable to build a world of peace,
without which development is not possible, a world guided by
the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and
International Law.</p>
<p>The signing by the heads of State or Government of the
Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Peace
Zone marked a historic step, and now provides a point of
reference for our States’ relations with the rest of the
world.</p>
<p>Solidarity will be of paramount importance in Our America to
advance our common interests.</p>
<p>We want to express our strong condemnation of the unjustified
and unacceptable unilateral sanctions imposed on the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and of the continuous
foreign interference intended to create a climate of
instability in that sister nation. Cuba, who profoundly knows
all these stories because it has endured them during more than
50 years, reaffirms its strongest support to the Bolivarian
Revolution and the legitimate government headed by President
Nicolás Maduro Moros.</p>
<p>We join the Republic of Argentina in its demand over the
Malvinas [Falkland], the South Georgia and South Sandwich
Islands, and the surrounding maritime space. We support the
South American nation and its President Cristina Fernandez who
is facing the attacks of speculative funds and the rulings of
venal courts that impinge on the sovereignty of that country.</p>
<p>We reiterate our solidarity with the people and government of
Ecuador, and the demands of President Rafael Correa for
reparations on account of the environmental damages caused by
the transnational company Chevron in the Ecuadorian Amazonia.</p>
<p>As we have previously said, the Community will be incomplete
while Puerto Rico is not a member. The colonial situation of
that country is inadmissible, and its Latin American and
Caribbean nature are beyond dispute.</p>
<p>Concerning the peace process in Colombia, significant
agreements have been reached by the Government and the
Revolutionary Armed Forces-Peoples’ Army of that nation at the
negotiating table in Havana. Never before so much progress had
been made toward peace. Cuba, as one of the guarantors and the
venue of such negotiations, shall continue offering the
necessary facilities and contributing as much as possible to
end the conflict and build a just and lasting peace in that
fraternal nation.</p>
<p>We will provide our resolute support, as we have until now,
to the fair claim of the Caribbean nations to receive
reparations for the damages caused by slavery and colonialism.
And, we shall definitely oppose the decision to deprive these
countries of indispensable financial resources under the
technocratic pretext of considering them middle-income
economies.</p>
<p>We welcome the excellent progress made at the CELAC-China
Forum and the region’s relations with the BRICS group.</p>
<p>We reaffirm our concern for the huge and growing military
expenses imposed on the world by the United States and NATO,
as well as for the intent to expand the latter’s aggressive
presence up to the borders of Russia, a country we are bound
to by historical, fraternal and mutually advantageous
relations. We state our vigorous opposition to the unilateral
and unjust sanctions imposed on that nation.</p>
<p>The increasing aggressiveness of NATO’s military doctrine and
the development of unconventional wars, with their devastating
effects and grave consequences, constitutes a threat to
international peace and security.</p>
<p>As to Cuba, the principles of sovereign equality among States
and self-determination of the peoples cannot be waived.</p>
<p>The United Nations General Assembly should exercise its power
to preserve international peace and security in the face of
the Security Council double-standards, excesses and omissions.
It should wait no more to secure the full membership of
Palestine, whose people count with the solidarity of the Cuban
people and government. The Security Council veto providing
impunity to Israel’s crimes must cease.</p>
<p>Africa, where our peoples have their roots, needs no advice
or interference but the transference of financial resources,
technology and a fair deal. We shall always defend the
legitimate rights of those nations alongside which we fought
colonialism and apartheid, and with which we have today
fraternal relations and cooperation. We shall never forget
their unshakeable solidarity and support.</p>
<p>Cuba will restlessly advocate the just causes and the
interests of the South countries, and will be loyal to their
common objectives and positions knowing that Humanity is
Homeland. The foreign policy of the Revolution will always be
faithful to its principles.</p>
<p>Dear friends and colleagues:</p>
<p>Last December 17th, we welcomed to our homeland the Cuban
counterterrorist fighters Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino
and Antonio Guerrero, who alongside Fernando González and René
González are to us a source of pride and an example of
determination.</p>
<p>The President of the United States admitted the failure of
the policy implemented against Cuba for more than fifty years,
and the complete isolation it brought to his country as well
as the impact of the blockade on our people. Additionally, he
ordered the review of the obviously unjustifiable designation
of the Island in the List of States Sponsors of International
Terrorism.</p>
<p>That same day, he announced the decision to re-establish U.S.
diplomatic relations with our government.</p>
<p>These changes are the result of nearly a century-and-a-half
of heroic struggle and fidelity to its principles by the Cuban
people. It has also been possible thanks to the new era we are
living in our region, and the sound and brave demand of the
governments and peoples of CELAC.</p>
<p>This has come as a vindication to Our America, which has
together defended this objective at the United Nations
Organization and in every other forum.</p>
<p>The debates that took place in the Summit of the Americas
held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2009, against
the background of the ALBA Summit held in Cumaná, Venezuela,
led recently elected President Barack Obama to speak of a new
beginning with Cuba.</p>
<p>In 2012 Cartagena, Colombia, provided context to a strong
discussion and a unanimous and resounding stance against the
blockade, occasion that compelled an important United States
official to call it as the great failure of Cartagena or
disaster –this is the exact term-, and against Cuba’s
exclusion from such events. In protest, Ecuador had decided
not to attend while Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia, with the
support of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, stated that they
would not attend another summit in the absence of Cuba. The
Caribbean Community adopted a similar position, and so did
Mexico and the other nations present at the meeting. Likewise,
before his inauguration, Panamanian President Juan Carlos
Varela announced his decision to invite Cuba, on equal footing
and with full rights, to the 7th Summit of the Americas, and
he has acted on that statement. Cuba immediately responded
that it would be there.</p>
<p>Martí’s assertion that “a just principle from the depth of a
cave is more powerful than an army” has been proven right.</p>
<p>To everyone here I convey Cuba’s deepest appreciation.</p>
<p>To the 188 States that vote against the blockade at the
United Nations, to those that raise a similar demand in the
General Assembly and International summits and conferences,
and to all the popular movements, political forces,
parliaments and personalities who labored restlessly to that
end I express the sincere gratitude of our nation.</p>
<p>To the American people that recently manifested its growing
opposition to the policy of blockade and hostility lasting
more than five decades, I also reiterate our appreciation and
friendly feelings.</p>
<p>These results prove that governments with profound
differences can find solutions to problems, through a
respectful dialogue and exchanges based on sovereign equality
and reciprocity to the benefit of their respective nations.</p>
<p>As I have repeatedly affirmed, both Cuba and the United
States should learn the art of civilized coexistence based on
respect for differences between our governments, and on
cooperation in areas of common interest that may contribute to
tackling the challenges facing the hemisphere and the world.</p>
<p>However, no one should expect that to achieve that Cuba would
renounce its ideals of independence and social justice or
abandon any of our principles, or give in an inch in the
defense of our national sovereignty.</p>
<p>We shall not yield to provocations but neither shall we
accept any indication of advices or pressures in matters
concerning our internal affairs. We have made great sacrifices
and taken major risks to earn that sovereign right.</p>
<p>Can diplomatic relations be re-established before financial
services cut off as a result of the financial blockade are
restored to the Cuban Interests Section and its Consular
Offices in Washington? How can the re-establishment of
diplomatic relations be explained without rescinding Cuba from
the List of States Sponsors of International Terrorism? What
will the behavior of the U.S. diplomats in Havana be from now
on concerning the observance of the standards set by the
International Conventions for Diplomatic and Consular
Relations? This is what our delegation said to the State
Department during last week discussions, and more meetings
will be necessary to deal with these issues.</p>
<p>We have shared with the President of the United States our
disposition to move forward to the normalization of bilateral
relations, once the diplomatic relations have been
re-established. This involves the mutual adoption of measures
to improve the climate between the two countries, the
resolution of other pending issues, and advances in
cooperation.</p>
<p>The current situation opens up a modest opportunity for the
hemisphere to find new and better forms of cooperation that
can benefit the two Americas. This would help in the solution
of pressing problems and the opening of new avenues.</p>
<p>The text of the Proclamation of Latin America and the
Caribbean as a Peace Zone becomes an indispensable platform to
that end, including the recognition that every State has the
inalienable right to choose its political, economic, social
and cultural system without interference from any other State,
an unwavering principle of International Law.</p>
<p>The main issue still stands unresolved. The economic,
commercial and financial blockade causing enormous human and
economic damages to our country constitutes a violation of
International Law, and must cease.</p>
<p>I remember a memorandum of April 1960 from Assistant
Secretary Mallory where he said that in the absence of an
effective political opposition in Cuba, a situation of hunger,
suffering and despair should be created to bring about the
ousting of the revolutionary government. Now, the objective
seems to be fostering an artificial political opposition by
economic, political and communication means.</p>
<p>The re-establishment of diplomatic relations is the beginning
of a process toward the normalization of bilateral relations,
but this will not be possible while the blockade remains in
effect; the territory illegally occupied by the Guantánamo
Naval Base is not returned; the radio and television
broadcasts breaching international rules and regulations do
not cease; and, adequate compensation is not paid to our
people for the human and economic damages sustained.</p>
<p>It would not be ethical, fair or acceptable to ask Cuba
anything in exchange. If these issues are not resolved, a
diplomatic rapprochement between Cuba and the United States
would not make sense.</p>
<p>It can neither be expected of Cuba to negotiate the
above-mentioned absolutely sovereign issues related to its
internal affairs.</p>
<p>It was possible to advance in the recent negotiations because
we treated each other with respect, and as equals. Future
progress demands that this remains so.</p>
<p>We have followed with interest the announcement made by the
President of the United States of some executive decisions
aimed at modifying certain aspects concerning the
implementation of the blockade.</p>
<p>The measures made public so far are very limited. The
prohibition stands with regards to credits and the use of the
dollar in our international financial transactions; the
individual travels of Americans with license for so-called
people-to-people exchanges are prevented and conditioned to
subversive purposes; and maritime travels are also forbidden.
Another standing prohibition, among many others, restricts the
acquisition in third markets of equipment or technology with
more than 10 percent of American input as well as the U.S.
importation of goods containing Cuban raw materials.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama could use with determination his
extensive executive powers to substantially modify the
implementation of the blockade. This is something he can do
even without Congressional approval.</p>
<p>He could allow other sectors of the economy to do what he has
authorized in the field of telecommunications with the clear
objective of exercising political influence in Cuba.</p>
<p>His decision to promote a debate with Congress towards the
removal of the blockade is significant.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the spokespersons of the U.S. government
have clearly stated that the methods are changing but not the
objectives of their policy, and insisted in actions that
interfere with our internal affairs, something we will not
accept. The American counterparts should not pretend to relate
with the Cuban society as if a sovereign government did not
exist in the Island.</p>
<p>No one would even dream that the new policy announced accepts
the existence of a Socialist Revolution 90 miles away from
Florida.</p>
<p>There is the wish that the so-called civil society is present
at the Summit of the Americas in Panama; that is a wish that
Cuba has always shared. We protest what happened at the World
Trade Organization Conference in Seattle, at the Summits of
the Americas in Miami and Quebec, at the Climate Change Summit
in Copenhagen or at the G-7 and IMF meetings, where the civil
society was confined tens of miles away from the venues, and
kept behind steel fences and under brutal police repression.</p>
<p>Of course, the Cuban civil society will attend, and I hope
there will be no restrictions against our country’s
non-governmental organizations, which are not interested in
any status at the OAS but are definitely recognized by the
United Nations.</p>
<p>I hope to see in Panama the popular movements and NGOs that
advocate nuclear disarmament and environmental protection;
those that oppose neoliberalism; the Occupy Wall Street
movement and the Indignant of this region; the university and
secondary school students; the peasants, trade unions,
original peoples, and organizations that oppose shale
contamination; the advocates of immigrants’ rights; those who
denounce torture and extrajudicial executions, police
brutality and racist practices; that demand equal pay for
women for equal work; and those advocating reparation for
damages from transnational companies.</p>
<p>The announcements of last December 17th have elicited world
recognition and extensive support for President Obama in his
own country, however, certain forces in the United States will
try to derail this process that is just beginning. They are
also the enemies of a U.S. fair relationship with Latin
America and the Caribbean, the same that jeopardize the
bilateral relations of many countries from our region with
that nation. They are always blackmailing and exercising
pressure.</p>
<p>We are aware that the path to the removal of the blockade
will be long and difficult and will require the support,
mobilization and resolute action of every person of goodwill
in the United States and the world; the approval by the UN
General Assembly in its next session of the resolution
demanding the end of the blockade; and, especially, the
concerted action of Our America.</p>
<p><em><strong>Raul Castro Ruz</strong> is the president of
Cuba.</em></p>
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<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
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