The President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba delivered remarks at a Federation Council sitting.
President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez, who was in Moscow on an official visit, delivered remarks at the 534th sitting of the Federation Council.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko described Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez as an active proponent of the development of Russia-Cuba relations. “His efforts as a member of parliament and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba have helped create a legal framework for strengthening close ties between Russia and Cuba in politics, business and culture,” the Speaker noted.
In accordance with the President of Russia’s Executive Order of 4 May 2022, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez was awarded the Order of Friendship for his contribution to the strengthening of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between our two nations.
The President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State of Cuba pointed out that during the 60 years of diplomatic relations Russia and Cuba acted in accordance with the political will of their peoples, parliaments and governments to build up cooperation and friendship on the principles of equality, mutual respect and support, including on complicated international issues. “Relations between the parliaments of Russia and Cuba are a good example of cooperation in maintaining and strengthening bilateral ties in all spheres,” he said. He also called for expanding dialogue between parliaments and expressed Cuba’s readiness to hold the first bilateral inter-parliamentary meeting.
Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez thanked the Federation Council and the Government of Russia for their exceptional contribution to the renovation of the National Capitol Building in Havana. “It is a remarkable building where the National Assembly of People’s Power holds its meetings now,” he said.
The President of the National Assembly pointed out that the economic situation in the majority of countries had been compounded by the impacts of the pandemic and climate change, such as very strong droughts and hurricanes. “The current global crisis has pushed food and fuel prices up and created logistics problems in international trade.”
When speaking about the Cuban economy, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez emphasised that the main obstacle to its development was the unprecedented US embargo, which had not been lifted even during the pandemic. “The United States is maniacally trying to block all sources of Cuba’s income in order to bring our economy down. But the United States cannot destroy the spirit of the Cuban people.”
Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez thanked the Federation Council for the appeals it had made since 2016 to lift the embargo and expressed gratitude to Russia for sending humanitarian aid to Cuba.
The President of the National Assembly said that Cuba was adjusting is economic system to the National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030. This includes the updating of the legal framework in accordance with the 2019 Constitution of Cuba.
“The strengthening of economic, trade and financial relations with Russia and elevating them to the high level of our political ties are key development aspects for Cuba,” Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez said. He believes it is important to boost financial, energy and agricultural ties between our countries. In addition, it is necessary to encourage Russian companies and regions to actively engage in investment projects in Cuba. The Cuban official mentioned the positive examples of cooperation with Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Nizhny Novgorod and St Petersburg.
The President of the National Assembly expressed appreciation for unveiling a monument to Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Moscow. “This monument will remind us of the invaluable contribution made by that outstanding individual, Fidel Castro, to the establishment and strengthening of relations between our countries.
Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez also mentioned the Ukrainian crisis. He strongly condemned the unilateral sanctions adopted by the collective West and said that Cuba supported the idea of holding negotiations to find a solution that would take the interests of all sides into account.
The President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba recalled the decisive contribution made by the peoples of the Soviet Union to defeating Nazism during the difficult years of WWII and the Great Patriotic War. “The past must not be forgotten or distorted. Humanity must be grateful to the Soviet people, who stopped the proliferation of fascism.”