Cuba's Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, intervened this Tuesday before the United Nations Human Rights Council in its 46th session, calling on the body to internationalize cooperation in the face of Covid-19, to which he attributed an aggravation of the prevailing unjust global order.
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"The pandemic has unleashed a serious economic and social crisis, in which inequalities, hunger, and discrimination are growing exponentially, in a world already burdened by an unjust and undemocratic international order and by the application of a ruthless neoliberalism," Rodriguez said during his online speech.
The Cuban foreign minister pointed out that in times of Covid-19, the world observes how the wealthiest countries of the West try to monopolize the means to fight it, with only ten nations that bought 95 percent of the vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
"Privileging narrow interests over the general welfare will increase suffering and deaths, even in industrialized countries. The internationalization of cooperation is urgently needed. It is necessary to fight for the establishment of a just, democratic and equitable international order," Rodriguez stressed.
At the same time, the head of Cuban diplomacy today reiterated his country's commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and denounced the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States.
Como país miembro del Consejo #HRC46 hablaremos con voz propia, defenderemos el diálogo respetuoso y constructivo frente a enfoques punitivos, manipulación política y selectividad.
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) February 23, 2021
Los pueblos reclaman soluciones, no promesas. Merecen vida digna y un mundo mejor, que es posible. pic.twitter.com/73U013qty5
"As a member country of the #HRC46 Council, we will speak with our own voice; we will defend respectful and constructive dialogue against punitive approaches, political manipulation, and selectivity. People demand solutions, not promises. They deserve a dignified life and a better world, which is possible."
Rodriguez stressed that 56 Cuban medical brigades had provided support to several countries even under the pandemic and the blockade effects.
"This despite the cruel U.S. blockade, intensified to extreme levels by the outgoing administration of President Donald Trump, which included Cuba in the unilateral and spurious list of state sponsors of terrorism," he warned.
The foreign minister pointed out at the Council that manipulating the noble cause of human rights in terms of twisted political interests is unacceptable when referring to the attacks against the largest island in the Caribbean.
"In the face of attempts to denigrate the nation and overshadow its indisputable achievements in human rights, we will defend our truth and will never renounce sovereignty and independence," she remarked.
Rodriguez stressed that in Cuba, its free, universal, and quality health care system guarantees the right to health for all, which pays off in the battle against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
"Although we regret the loss of lives, it has allowed us to face the pandemic with positive results. Today we have four vaccine candidates in different phases of clinical trials, thanks to the development of Cuban science and our scientists' selfless work. We hope this year to immunize the entire population," he said.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Under the slogan "Bridges of Love," more than 500 people of all backgrounds mobilized in Miami, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles against the US blockade against Cuba and demanded the immediate lifting of Washington's brutal coercive measures. pic.twitter.com/Z9fAYHzZUa
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) February 2, 2021