Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel spoke at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23.
The Cuban leader condemned US imperialism in Latin America and around the world.
Noting that the Joe Biden administration has continued Donald Trump’s aggressive policies of unconventional warfare in seek of regime change, Díaz-Canel said the failure of the two-decade military occupation of Afghanistan shows that “where the United States intervenes, it increases instability, deaths, suffering, and leaves long-lasting scars.”
Díaz-Canel also called for reparations for slavery and independence for US colony Puerto Rico.
Translated key excerpts of his speech follow below.
At the UN, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced US imperialism, which "threatens, extorts and pressures sovereign states," demanding its "allies" help "overthrow legitimate governments"
He noted murderous sanctions have "become the central instrument of US foreign policy" pic.twitter.com/SCVdIEp8f3
— Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 23, 2021
“Under the leadership of and with the permanent instigation by the United States, a dangerous international schism is being promoted.”
“With the harmful use and abuse of coercive economic measures, which has become the central instrument of the foreign policy of the United States, the government of that country threatens, extorts, and pressures sovereign states so that they speak out and act against those that are deemed adversaries.”
“It [the US] demands that its allies build coalitions to overthrow legitimate governments, break trade agreements, abandon and ban certain technologies, and apply unjustified legal measures against citizens of countries that don’t submit to them.”
Cuba's president condemned the Biden admin. for continuing Trump's same criminal policies, waging an "unconventional war," with millions of dollars, "through campaigns of manipulation and lies."
The US goal is "to erase the Cuban Revolution."
"They do not accept alternatives." pic.twitter.com/wXA8qBe7XH
— Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 23, 2021
“The current Democratic administration [of Joe Biden] has maintained, without any changes, the 243 coercive measures adopted by the government of Donald Trump, including its decision to put Cuba on the false and immoral list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism.”
“It is in this context that an unconventional war is being waged against our country, to which the US government dedicates, as is publicly documented, millions of dollars, through campaigns of manipulation and lies, which use new information technologies and other digital platforms to internally and externally project an absolutely false image of Cuban reality, to sow confusion, to destabilize, to discredit the country, and to justify its doctrine of regime change.”
“They have done all of this to erase the Cuban Revolution off the political map of the world. They do not accept alternatives to the model they have in mind for their ‘backyard.’ Their plan is perverse and incompatible with the ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ they preach.”
"For more than 60 years, the US government has not for one minute stopped its attacks against Cuba."
At the UN, Cuban President Díaz-Canel condemns the United States for tightening its murderous blockade "in such a criminal and opportunist way, in the middle of the pandemic." pic.twitter.com/mROK7ZIoPi
— Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 23, 2021
“Independent and sovereign states are being driven, under many pressures, to subordinate themselves to Washington’s will, and to a political order based on ever-changing rules.”
“For more than 60 years, the United States government has not for one minute stopped its attacks against Cuba. But in this crucial and challenging moment for all of the world’s nations, its aggression is over the limits.”
“The longest and cruelest economic, comercial, and financial blockade that has ever been imposed on any nation [the US blockade on Cuba] has gotten even worse, in such a criminal and opportunist way, in the middle of the pandemic.”
At the United Nations, Cuban President Díaz-Canel noted the US uses the term "international community" only to refer to its client states.
"It is behavior associated with ideological and cultural intolerance, with a heavily racist influence and hegemonic goals," he said. pic.twitter.com/9GlEU9FVys
— Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 23, 2021
“It [the US] often uses the term ‘international community’ to refer to a small group of governments that go along with, without ever questioning, the will of Washington. As for the rest of the world’s countries, the vast majority of this organization, it seems we do not have space in the definition of ‘international community’ that the United States promotes.”
“It is behavior associated with ideological and cultural intolerance, with a heavily racist influence and hegemonic goals.”
Cuba used its global platform at the United Nations General Assembly to call for reparations for slavery pic.twitter.com/RD05FnM57j
— Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 23, 2021
“We join the nations of the Caribbean in their call for just reparations for the horrors of slavery and the treatment of slaves. We support their right to a fair, special, and defined agreement, which is indispensable to confront the challenges caused by climate change, natural disasters, the unjust international financial system, and the difficult conditions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
At the United Nations, Cuba called for an end to US colonialism in Puerto Rico.
“We reaffirm that the brotherly people of Puerto Rico should be free and independent, after more than a century subjected to colonial domination.” pic.twitter.com/xmwjw3YXPW
— Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 23, 2021
“We reaffirm that the brotherly people of Puerto Rico should be free and independent, after more than a century subjected to colonial domination.”
Cuba: "It has been proven that, where the US intervenes, it increases instability, deaths, suffering."
"The United Nations cannot ignore the lesson in Afghanistan." After two decades of US occupation, the only one who benefited from the war was the Military-Industrial Complex. pic.twitter.com/Jf3CvmUmEV
— Benjamin Norton (@BenjaminNorton) September 23, 2021
“The United Nations cannot ignore the lesson in Afghanistan. They had to go through two decades of occupation, with an outcome of thousands of deaths, 10 million people displaced, and billions of dollars spent, which became profits for the Military-Industrial Complex, all to come to the conclusion that terrorism can neither be prevented nor combatted with bombs, that occupation only leaves destruction, and that no country has the right to impose its will on sovereign nations.”
“Afghanistan is not an isolated case. It has been proven that, where the United States intervenes, it increases instability, deaths, suffering, and leaves long-lasting scars.”
Cuba shows solidarity with Venezuela, Nicaragua, China, Russia, Iran, Syria, Palestine, DPRK, Western Sahara
In the final section of his speech at the United Nations, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel also addressed numerous important issues in international affairs.
He reaffirmed support for Venezuela and Nicaragua, and called for an end to US aggression against those countries.
Díaz-Canel demanded “the end to foreign interference in Syria and full respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The Cuban president called for justice for Palestinians and an end to the illegal Israeli occupation.
He condemned the criminal sanctions imposed on Iran.
Díaz-Canel reaffirmed solidarity with the people of Western Sahara.
He condemned the “unilateral and unjust sanctions” imposed on the DPRK (North Korea).
“We demand the end to the foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Belarus,” the Cuban leader added, reiterating support for its President Alexander Lukashenko.
Díaz-Canel emphasized Cuba’s endorsement of the One China Policy, recognizing Taiwan as part of China, adding, “we oppose any attempt to harm the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China, as well as interference in its internal affairs.”
He also denounced “the intent to expand NATO’s presence up to the borders of Russia, the interference in affairs that are inherent to its sovereignty, and the imposition of unilateral and unjust sanctions against it.”
