Dear Participants to the Conference of the United
National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)
We
convey to you our friendly salute on behalf on the Cuban Institute of
Friendship with the Peoples and the whole Cuba.
The
work UNAC does in USA in the struggle for social justice and against military
interventions in other nations is a topic of utmost importance nowadays.
The
problems affecting the peoples of the world, among which we have: unequal
distribution of wealth, lack of medical assistance and education, unemployment,
malnutrition, and poverty, that affects millions of people in the world; plus
the food, energetic and environmental crisis, that put the very life of the
human being at risk, can not be solved with wars, nor the can be solved with
military interventions.
On the
contrary, it is fundamental the strengthening of dialogue and cooperation among
nations, peoples and governments of the world, with absolute respect for the
international law and the free self-determination of the peoples.
Cuba,
that has suffered military interventions, terrorist’s attacks, an economic
blockade that is still in place, has decided to build its own model of
development that put an emphasis on the wellbeing of the people, and guarantees
the exercise of the economic, social, cultural and political rights of its
people; it is in the middle of the updating process of its economic and social
model, aim at achieving a prosperous and sustainable socialism for all its
citizens.
In
this context, on December 17th, the governments of Cuba and USA
decided to begin the work for the reestablishment of bilateral diplomatic
relations, and the Cuban people received with joy the news of the return of the
three remaining Cubans in US jails, for fighting terrorism.
The
Cuban Five, Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando and Rene, symbolize the spirit of
resistance of our people, and the firmness of principles that support the Cuban
Revolution.
The
decision of the US government of beginning talks with the our government,
without Cuba making any concession of principles, is due to the resistance and
strength of our people, which for over 5 decades has built a social project
each day more just and inclusive.
Nonetheless,
in spite that we consider as positives the steps given by the current US
administration to improve relations with Cuba, the economic, commercial, and
financial Blockade against the island is kept, which constitutes the main
obstacle for the development of our people.
We
will continue the fight to end this hostile and unilateral policy against Cuba,
together with our friends in US, and with other peoples of the world.
Finally,
we wish you a productive debate, conducive to the strengthening of the work of
your organization.
Kenia Serrano Puig
ICAP President