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| Ambassador Hernández during a KKE rally for Cuba (Archive) |
For 34 years, the overwhelming majority of UN member states have supported lifting the brutal blockade, which has become even more suffocating this year with the imposition of an energy embargo. At the same time, pressure from the United States and its Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who comes from Miami's anti-Cuban political establishment, has intensified as Washington seeks to persuade various countries to change their votes.
The conversation with the Cuban ambassador follows.
Rizospastis: We would like to begin by asking about the situation facing the Cuban people, particularly following the intensification of the US energy blockade and sanctions since the beginning of the year.
Aramís Fuente Hernández: Cuba is experiencing an extremely difficult and complex situation amid a multifaceted war involving the maximum intensification of the illegal and criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US government for nearly 70 years.
This now includes an unprecedented energy blockade designed to suffocate the country. At the same time, a psychological war is being waged through continuous media and communications campaigns aimed at distorting reality and blaming our authorities for everything that is happening.
We must emphasize once again that the blockade constitutes an act of economic warfare and a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of an entire people.
As a consequence, we Cubans are experiencing a severe deterioration in our quality of life. The suffering and hardships are immeasurable and continue to grow. The ordeal endured by our people cannot be quantified. There is not a single family or sector of the country that has escaped the effects of the blockade.
Seven thousand shipping containers carrying food, medicines, essential goods and spare parts have failed to reach Cuba because they remain blocked in ports in third countries. Infant mortality has doubled. The survival rate of children with cancer, which had reached 85%, has fallen to 65%, while 100,000 people are awaiting surgical procedures.
These are lives that could have been saved but are being lost as a consequence of the perverse and genocidal policy pursued against us by the United States.
The Blockade is the real threat
The executive orders issued on January 29 and May 1, both under the absurd and misleading pretext that Cuba represents an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security, imposed an energy blockade and further intensified the extraterritorial reach of the blockade against Cuba.
Cuba is not a threat. The blockade is.
These orders constitute a serious and flagrant violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of sovereign equality among states.
The oil blockade, together with the crude and draconian threats of sanctions against anyone supplying Cuba with fuel, has effectively paralyzed the flow of this vital resource, with consequences throughout society.
Public transportation, industry, food and pharmaceutical production, the transportation and distribution of essential supplies, drinking-water provision, community services, education and healthcare — including the operation of hospitals — have all been affected.
The enormous impact on electricity generation has resulted in daily power outages lasting many hours, affecting the population and the country's entire socioeconomic and productive system, ultimately causing direct harm to people's quality of life and health.
This is a violent and brazen policy, compounded by Cuba's false designation as a "state sponsor of terrorism" and all the consequences that designation entails.
Everything has been coldly calculated against a peaceful people who neither threaten nor attack anyone. Using the deprivation of energy as a weapon against the civilian population constitutes state terrorism and genocide.
The US government seeks to exclude Cuba from the international economic and financial system, depriving our country of sources of income.
Its objective is to create a climate of social, economic and political chaos and provoke a humanitarian crisis that would allow it to justify even more aggressive actions, including military intervention.
No people deserve to be subjected to such collective punishment simply for defending their right to self-determination.
Cuba will not be intimidated
Rizospastis: Both the US President and the Secretary of State have repeatedly declared that "Cuba will be next." How are the Cuban government and the Communist Party of Cuba responding to these scenarios?
Aramís Fuente Hernández: Indeed, almost every day, and publicly, the United States accompanies new sanctions with threats to overthrow Cuba's constitutional order by force. Plans to seize our country and its resources are being drawn up and openly announced.
The US Secretary of State is currently the principal architect of these policies against Cuba and bears primary responsibility for their devastating humanitarian and economic consequences.
He has publicly acknowledged this, stating that his government's policy is to close off every possible avenue Cuba finds to overcome its difficulties.
The US President and his Secretary of State have never stopped threatening us.
To illustrate the extreme lengths to which the blockade has been taken, it is worth recalling that the President himself declared: "I don't think you can put much more pressure on," short of "going in and blasting the place."
This statement, which has provoked profound indignation among the Cuban people, can only be interpreted as incitement to the ruthless slaughter of a country that has never promoted hatred against another.
Cuba is a peaceful country. We do not attack the United States, nor do we seek confrontation with it.
As we have stated on more than one occasion, however, our commitment to peace in no way diminishes our readiness to fight in defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
There is no possibility of surrender or retreat, nor of accepting any agreement based on coercion or intimidation.
Cuba is confronting this asymmetric aggression with determination and political unity under the leadership of the Revolution, in the face of unprecedented challenges whose characteristics and dangers are unlike those experienced by other countries.
We do not want war. We defend peace and desire peace — but not peace without sovereignty, independence and dignity for the Cuban people.
We will never allow ourselves to be brought under the yoke of subjugation again. And if we are attacked, we will be ready to defend our country with courage and determination.
Rizospastis: Under these circumstances, what is the significance of the vote taking place at the United Nations on October 28, and why are we seeing the United States attempting to influence the positions of various countries?
Aramís Fuente Hernández: These votes are always extremely important, but this time there are factors that give the vote even greater significance.
These include the severe intensification of the blockade and the extraordinary pressure the US government is exerting on numerous countries, threatening them in various ways in an attempt to force them to abandon the positions they have maintained for many years in support of Cuba's resolution against the blockade.
There have therefore been numerous denunciations and substantial evidence demonstrating that the United States is attempting to divert attention from the discussion of the blockade and its intensification, while simultaneously increasing sanctions against Cuba.
Recently, we witnessed the crude and grotesque tactics employed by US diplomats at United Nations headquarters, where they organized an event against Cuba and mobilized a small group of mercenaries, including a notorious terrorist, with the malicious intention of promoting a hostile action against one of the organization's member states.
Such conduct is unacceptable.
The pressure being exerted personally by the Secretary of State is publicly known, as are his direct communications with heads of state and government in an effort to change their countries' positions ahead of the forthcoming vote.
This is a campaign of intimidation and political coercion aimed at interfering with the decisions of sovereign United Nations member states.
The objective is clear: They seek to weaken support for the resolution that Cuba will submit to the General Assembly for the 34th time.
For this reason, this year's UN General Assembly vote carries particular significance.
We are confident that the defense of international law and national sovereignty will prevail, that many countries will maintain their positions, and that they will once again demand the implementation of the numerous General Assembly resolutions calling for an end to this absurd and brutal policy.
Supporting Cuba is an act of courage, justice and historical responsibility
Rizospastis: What message would you like to convey to the readers of Rizospastis and to the Greek people? What is the importance of internationalist solidarity with Cuba today?
Aramís Fuente Hernández: I would like once again to express my gratitude for the enduring and unwavering solidarity of our Greek brothers and sisters with the Cuban people and their Revolution.
Cuba is not alone. We can count on the solidarity of peoples and governments that defend international law and cherish peace.
I am certain that the extraordinary achievement of my people in resisting such a harsh siege will continue to inspire admiration throughout the world.
Cuba will emerge victorious and will continue to prevail. Its example can never be blockaded.
As has been emphasized, supporting Cuba today is an act of courage, justice and historical responsibility, as well as a defense of the principles of international law.
What is happening to Cuba today could happen to anyone else tomorrow. No one is immune from the possibility of coming under attack.
The Cuban Revolution has always confronted such challenges and emerged victorious.
This time will be no different.
With the same strength and determination with which we have resisted the blockade and attacks of every kind for more than six decades, we are confronting this new escalation today.
And we will prevail.
