By Alejandra Garcia on June 11, 2024, from Havana
BRICS Minsterial Meeting in Moscow. photo: Cubaminrex
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla arrived in the Russian Federation on Monday heading the delegation attending the BRICS Ministerial Meeting. The Cuban official arrived in Moscow with a message of peace and the common purpose of his country with the member states of the group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Iran) to defend multilateralism and show respect for diversity.
“The world is in urgent need of a new civilized coexistence where solidarity, cooperation and integration among states prevail. The BRICS can contribute significantly to this historical claim of the South, especially in the path towards the necessary reform of the current international financial system, deeply unjust, undemocratic, speculative and exclusionary,” the diplomatic leader said during his speech at the meeting.
On behalf of the Caribbean nation, Rodriguez supported the BRICS call for the end of the genocide in Palestine and the exercise of the inalienable rights of its people, including having their own state on the pre-1967 borders and with its capital in East Jerusalem, as well as the return of refugees.
Likewise, he called for the cessation of unilateral coercive measures against Russia and NATO actions to fuel the conflict and condemned the hostile policy of the United States towards Cuba. He also expressed his gratitude for the permanent support and solidarity of the countries present and the entire international community against the US economic, commercial and financial blockade against the island.
“We are a small developing state that has resisted for more than 60 years a fierce economic, commercial and financial blockade, which has intensified in recent years to unprecedented levels, and impacts very negatively on every sector of Cuban society and causes humanitarian damage and shortages and suffering to our noble people, who do not give up their dreams of peace, social justice and development,” Rodriguez recalled.
In that pursuit of the Cuban people, the support of the BRICS countries and many others of the planet has been crucial. That is why, since the ministerial meeting held in Moscow, the Cuban high-ranking official reiterated Cuba’s determination to evaluate all possible ways for a closer relationship with the BRICS.
“We continue the search for mutual benefits, including the possibility of becoming an Associated State of the Group,” the minister affirmed. Cuba is currently involved in initiatives promoted by member countries of the Group, such as China’s Belt and Road initiative and projects of the Eurasian Economic Union, in which Cuba takes part as an observer member.
“Cuba is willing to share with the BRICS – Bruno commented – its modest experiences and results in the fields of the medical, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, health, education, science, among other sectors for the benefit of our peoples and all those of the South.”
The BRICS represent more than 45% of the world’s population and a third of the planet’s GDP, a key player in global geopolitics, and a hope for the countries of the South in the construction of a fairer, more equitable and sustainable multilateral international order.
“United will be the only way to confront selfishness and individualism, and to promote a life of solidarity, fraternity and respect in which no one is left behind,” Bruno Rodriguez concluded.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano English
(click here to read the complete text of the Cuban Foreign Minister at the BRICS meeting)