Intervention of the Cuban Foreign Minister at the BRICS meeting

Havana, June 11 (ACN) Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, spoke today at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting.

In his speech, the head of Cuban diplomacy affirmed Cuba’s readiness to share its modest experiences and results with the BRICS group in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, the biopharmaceutical industry, health, education and science, among other sectors for the benefit of our people and ours. From all the people of the South.

Rodriguez Barela supported the demand to end the genocide in Palestine and exercise the inalienable rights of its people, including the establishment of their state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as the return of refugees. .

He called for an end to unilateral coercive measures against Russia and NATO, which aim to inflame the conflict.

Given their importance, we quote in full the words of the Caribbean Chancellor:

Speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, at the meeting of BRICS foreign ministers

His Excellency Mr. Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation,

Your Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign Affairs,

Heads of delegations and distinguished delegates:

On behalf of the Government and people of Cuba, I thank my country for the invitation to participate in this important meeting of Foreign Ministers, which is being held under the hospitable presidency of the Russian Federation. Likewise, I would like to congratulate Ethiopia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran, for joining as full members of the BRICS group, since the first of last January.

With this necessary and strategic expansion, the group represents more than 45% of the world’s population and a third of the planet’s GDP. It is establishing itself as a major actor in global geopolitics, with increasing planet-wide relevance and hope for the countries of the South in building a more just, equitable and sustainable multilateral international order.

The world needs a new civilizational coexistence dominated by solidarity, cooperation and integration between countries. BRICS can contribute significantly to this historic claim of the South, especially on the path towards necessary reform of the current international financial system, which is deeply inequitable, undemocratic, speculative and exclusive.

To confront the current global food crisis more effectively, the BRICS contribution to agricultural development and food production is significant, as its practices and experiences constitute valid references for other countries, as is also the case with the use and generation of renewable energies in development. projects, an issue of vital importance to the countries of the South. Strengthening cooperation in this field would contribute to the development of cleaner and more sustainable generation matrices, would provide stability to such a development-sensitive sector, and would contribute to confronting climate change.

The new bank for the development of the BRICS countries constitutes a point of strength, as the projects proposed by this group to develop will receive local financial support, based on the use of their national currencies.

It also constitutes an important alternative and opportunity for the countries of the South, which will allow them to obtain financial resources under favorable conditions. Expanding the membership of the New Development Bank would increase its international influence and contribute to mobilizing financing for key areas of development for countries of the South.

The BRICS initiative to launch a large-scale foreign exchange reserve mechanism, which ensures certainty and stability for the South, as well as the establishment of reciprocal lines of credit in local currencies, is an important contribution to the formation of a new and inclusive international financial system. building.

As it extends to other countries, this process would contribute to alleviating the imbalances in the current monetary system, which maintains the US dollar as a pressure tool and a weapon to impose unilateral coercive measures, which have an extremely negative impact on the economy. For many of our people.

Dear Ministers and Delegates:

Over the decades, Cuba has maintained excellent relations with the founding members of BRICS and with those who have recently joined the group, as well as with all the countries invited to this important meeting, present here.

I welcome and support the demands of the BRICS group to end the genocide in Palestine and exercise the inalienable rights of its people, including the establishment of their own state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as return. Of refugees.

We call for an end to unilateral coercive measures against Russia and NATO aimed at fueling the conflict.

I reiterate Cuba’s determination to evaluate all possible avenues for a closer relationship with the BRICS, in search of mutual benefits, including the possibility of becoming an associate state of the group.

We are pleased that Cuba is included in the long-term initiatives promoted by the member states of the Community, such as the Belt and Road Cases, other Chinese global initiatives and Eurasian Economic Union projects, as an observer member.

We also maintain bilateral relations in important areas that will contribute to achieving our goals stipulated in the National Plan for Economic and Social Development and achieving the sustainable development goals.

We are a small island developing State that has resisted and continues to resist for more than 60 years a ferocious economic, commercial and financial blockade, which has worsened in recent years to unprecedented levels and has had an extremely negative impact on every sector of Cuban society. It causes humanitarian damage, shortages and suffering to our honorable people who do not give up their dreams of peace, social justice and development.

In this endeavour, we appreciate the enduring and supportive support of the countries present here and the entire international community.

From this platform, I would like to reaffirm Cuba’s readiness to share its modest experiences and results with the BRICS group in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, the biopharmaceutical industry, health, education and science, among other sectors for the benefit of our people and everyone. Those in the south.

We agree with the BRICS group on the importance and necessity of continuing to enhance integration and cooperation, on the basis of pluralism and respect for diversity, in an effort to establish an international system based on sovereign equality between states, just, democratic and equitable.

We reiterate to the Russian Federation our best wishes for success during its interim presidency of the BRICS and in the celebration of its sixteenth summit, which will be held from 22 to 24 October 2024 in Kazan.

Thank you very much.