The National Network On Cuba sends warm greetings of solidarity and appreciation to President Raul Castro on the occasion of his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 28, 2015.
We look forward to President Castro’s speech which comes after nearly a year of profound changes in U.S./Cuba relations. We first recognize the extraordinary efforts of so many individuals led by the Cuban people which resulted in the successful return of the Cuban 5 to their homes. We are deeply moved by the determination and steadfastness of the Cuban people and the Cuban government which has refused to concede any of its sovereignty as part of the diplomatic negotiation with the United States. We will continue to demand that United States elected officials conduct bi-lateral discussions in a respectful manner, recognizing the legitimacy and worldwide support that Cuba has earned.
We take this opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Jose Ramon Cabañas on his appointment of September 17 as Cuban Ambassador to the United States.
We are certain that the United Nations members will, for the 24th consecutive year, reinforce and restate the demands that the United States end its economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba. We join the world community in demanding the United States Congress lift the travel ban and blockade of Cuba. We also denounce the $833 billion in damages caused by the unlawful United States blockade on the people of Cuba. We call on the United States to close the prison in Guantanamo and return the territory to Cuba.
We applaud Cuba’s commitment to peace, education and health as demonstrated by the numbers of Cuban medical personnel fighting Ebola, the medical missions of the Henry Reeve Brigade deployed to assist with disasters in all parts of the world, the innovation of the Cuban educational method, “yo si puedo”, which has assisted countless peoples around the globe to read. We are grateful for the Cuban medical school, ELAM, which trains doctors from all parts of the world including the United States at no charge; only with the expectation that they return to their countries and serve communities in need. We fully support the nomination of the Cuban medical mission for the Nobel Peace Prize.
We further thank President Castro for releasing 3522 prisoners as a gesture to the visit of Pope Francis and contrast that with President Obama’s failure to release even one prisoner from U.S. jails as a message of welcome to the Pope. We note that the United States which offers only lip service to “human rights” has the highest per capita number of incarcerated individuals in the world.
The “revolution of tenderness” that Pope Francis called for is the true nature of the Cuban revolution: a revolution that provides for its citizens and for the citizens of the world. Thank you Cuba. Thank you President Castro.
