Rousseff criticizes Cuban embargo again

President Dilma Rousseff has reiterated her criticism of the United States sanctions on Cuba in effect since 1962. She sees Cuba’s hip in economic agreements alongside other Latin American and Caribbean countries as critical for the region.

“We openly reject the embargo on Cuba. We are convinced that no real economic integration is possible for Latin America and the Caribbean without the presence of Cuba," she said in her speech at the 2nd Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

This was Rousseff’s first address at the event, which is going on in Havana, the Cuban capital. During a visit to the inauguration of a Cuban port on Monday (Jan. 27), she had previously said that the embargo is unfair. Since her arrival in Havana, the president has met with the leaders of Cuba, Raúl Castro, and Argentina, Cristina Kirchner.

In recognition for Cuba’s successful leadership of CELAC, the president said that the bloc is a powerful tool to bring its member nations closer together. “Our countries are learning to combine their unique characters. In a way, CELAC makes the Caribbean more Latin American, and Latin America more Caribbean-like,” she compared.

Rousseff highlighted the summit as a valuable tool to promote the region’s dialogue with the world, and added that in recent years the CELAC member countries’ relationship with various global players such as the European Union, China, Russia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council has become closer.

The president went on to say that the growth of the Latin American countries is founded on a commitment to attracting investment and ensuring income distribution. She quoted data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labor Organization (ILO): “the portion of the population living in poverty in our region has fallen over the past decades, going from 48% to 28%. Extreme poverty has declined from 22.6% to 11.5%.”

The president emphasized that the summit is not intended to supersede other similar agreements. “CELAC’s existence does not preclude any bilateral relations between states, whether within or outside the region – rather, it has the potential to strengthen them.” According to her, bringing nations together can bolster individual development projects. “Integration can turn the prosperity of each into the wealth of all,” she said.

Dilma closed her speech by welcoming the next country that will take over CELAC’s presidency. “I'm confident that our dear colleague from Costa Rica, Laura Chinchila, will have an equally successful CELAC leadership. Brazil believes in CELAC,” she concluded.

Translated by Mayra Borges