United Nations, March 11 (Prensa Latina) The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter today condemned the unjustified re-inclusion of Cuba on the arbitrary list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism, drawn up by the United States.

“This unacceptable action confirms the discredit and opaque nature of this list and demonstrates the intention to intensify the criminal economic siege against Cuba to hinder its financial and commercial operations and cause greater hardship for the Cuban people,” the group said in a statement.

He stressed that Cuba’s unfair inclusion reinforces the negative impact of the criminal economic, commercial, and financial blockade on the realization of the Cuban people’s human rights.

“The Group recalls the repeated calls made to the United States government by several special procedures mandate holders, numerous States, international organizations, civil society, and other actors to remove Cuba from the list and lift the embargo,” it states.

Likewise, it strongly rejects the political manipulation of the fight against terrorism and reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Cuban people and government, and urges the United States government to immediately and unconditionally end the blockade.

Furthermore, to comply with the 32 resolutions adopted in this regard by the UN General Assembly and to exclude Cuba from the list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism.

Following this declaration, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez thanked the member countries of the Group of Friends of the UN Charter for their powerful statement delivered today before the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter is an initiative of a group of Member States whose main objective is to protect and promote the fundamental principles set forth in the UN Charter.

It is made up of Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Cuba, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, Palestine, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria, Uganda, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

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United Nations, Mar 10 (Prensa Latina) Cuba, on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, today denounced the humanitarian situation in Palestine, describing it as one of the most painful conflicts in modern history.

During the opening segment of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), the Second Secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Zonya Rivero, mentioned the unprecedented levels of violence, death and destruction in the Gaza Strip over the past 17 months.

The Cuban female leader lamented the tragic toll of more than 48,000 civilians killed and 110,000 wounded as a result of the Israeli aggression against Gaza.

“This brutal Israeli military aggression in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the illegal colonial occupation of Palestinian lands continue to cause suffering and pain, while hindering the full enjoyment of human rights,” he warned.

The Second Secretary of the FMC also highlighted the disproportionate impact that the conflict has had on women and girls, who make up a large part of the fatal victims.

According to data from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rivero said, almost a third of the fatal victims are women.

She added that UN Women has raised the alarm about the health crisis facing women in the Gaza Strip, including pregnant women and new mothers.

The representative of Cuba reaffirmed the position of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter in its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian cause and its commitment to support women and girls who resist the occupation.

She also called on the international community to commit to fulfilling its obligations and not allow Palestinian women to suffer this unjust fate.

Rivero reiterated the Group’s deep concern over recent statements showing intentions to seize Gaza, forcibly displace the Palestinian people and promote Israeli annexation plans in the West Bank.

The Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter reaffirmed its commitment to support the Palestinian cause, achieve the independence of the State of Palestine and reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to this issue.

A two-state solution that would allow for the realization of the independence of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“The future of Palestinian women and girls, their comprehensive development and full respect for their sacred history and culture, as well as their central role in society, are an integral part of the foundations of the State of Palestine, vital to overcoming decades of relentless acts of violence, oppression and siege,” she argued.

“It is our common duty to honour the historic debt owed to Palestine and to fulfil its inalienable rights to self-determination and independence,” concluded Rivero López on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter.

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Havana, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) Cuba’s main labor organization today called for a nationwide celebration of May Day, International Workers’ Day.

The main celebration, according to the call of the Cuban Workers’ Union (CTC), will be in the Plaza de la Revolución José Martí, in Havana, with the motto “For Cuba, together we create.”

“We will reaffirm our firm conviction that the unity of the people, unconditional resistance and the will to perfect the common work will always be guarantees of victory,” the text states.

The call was presented this Sunday after voluntary work in the western province of Mayabeque, harvesting potatoes.

“Today, the country faces the growing hostility of an increasingly aggressive and arrogant empire, determined to ensure the prevalence of new neocolonial, fascist and terrorist expressions,” he said.

In response to these acts that violate international law, he added, “the workers, together with the people, maintain the unwavering decision to be faithful to the legacy of the heroes of the Cuban nation.”

He also urged “to continue the battle that successive generations of workers, peasants and students have waged to achieve freedom, independence and social justice.”

“In this challenging and complex context, of such great importance for the nation and humanity, the CTC and its unions call for a day of mobilization to celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1,” he reiterated.

With the contribution of everyone, especially the workers, he says, “we will advance in the programs that support the socioeconomic transformation and development of the country.”

It also states that “it is essential to maximize the productive reserves that we have in each sector and job position; to consolidate the powers granted to the Socialist State Enterprise and its linkage with the non-state sector.”

The celebration of May Day, he says, is framed within transcendental commemorations.

Among them, the 130th anniversary of the “beginning of the Necessary War led by our National Hero José Martí on February 24, 1895” and the “86th anniversary of the founding of the CTC” stand out.

“It will also be a special moment to pay tribute to our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz,” he said.

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Washington, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) Activists from the Los Angeles Hands Off Cuba Committee (Lahoc) reiterated their demand that the United States government lift the economic blockade that is causing so much harm to the Cuban people.

According to a statement sent to Prensa Latina, members of Lahoc raised their voices at a women’s march in which more than 35,000 people participated in that city of California, on March 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Among the requests of the attendees, a predominantly female and young crowd that came out to defend abortion amid the current conservative policies of the Donald Trump administration, those in solidarity with Cuba reiterated the need to eliminate not only the economic but also the financial and commercial blockade that is trying to suffocate the island.

The text indicated that they also placed a table with informational material and a giant banner that read: “Let’s end the United States blockade of Cuba, let’s remove Cuba from the SSOT list (acronym in English for State Sponsors of Terrorism).”

During the march, the Lahoc team distributed 1,500 copies of a flyer titled “Women in Cuba: Revolution within the Revolution” that explains the achievements of women since 1959 and the new Family Code.

The young activists also sold books and buttons and registered for the delegation that will travel to the May Day activities on the island.

A significant part of the demonstration was a contingent of 500 workers from the Service Employees International Union, as well as groups of high school and university students, teachers, Palestinian and First Nations activists, and others.

Also in attendance were members of the National Organization for Women and the National Abortion Rights Action League.

“There were thousands of signs at the peaceful protest, all of which focused on defending women’s right to control their bodies and against Trump,” said Mark Friedman, a member of the International Association of Machinists.

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Artemisa, Cuba, 7 mar (Prensa Latina) El presidente cubano, Miguel Díaz-Canel constató hoy aquí el progreso de programas económicos y sociales de esta occidental provincia como parte de sus recorridos por municipios del país, informó el noticiero de la televisión nacional.

El mandatario visitó los territorios de Guanajay, Alquízar y Candelaria, acompañado por el integrante del Buró Político y secretario de Organización del Partido Comunista, Roberto morales Ojeda.

En Guanajay, Díaz-Canel llegó a la Empresa Productora de Ómnibus, “Evelio Prieto Guillama”, entidad que prevé reparar un centenar de estos vehículos para el servicio urbano en la capital cubana, gracias a un donativo de la República Popular China.

De acuerdo con la fuente estos medios de transporte, rígidos y articulados, estarán listos para finales del presente año.

El mandatario conoció en esa entidad sobre otros proyectos de desarrollo en el transporte ferroviario, triciclos eléctricos y ensamblaje de ciclomotores, lo que se realiza encontrando alternativas a los problemas que se presentan.

Más adelante, el jefe de Estado visitó el barrio “la Taconera», que experimenta un proceso de transformación y mejoría de su infraestructura para beneficio de sus habitantes. Asimismo arribó al polo productivo «Primero de Enero” que dispone de 54 hectáreas para cultivos varios.

Por su parte en Alquízar,

Díaz-Canel dialogó con directivos y trabajadores de la Empresa Agropecuaria Municipal donde constató el avance en la entrega de tierras en usufructos para elevar la producción de viandas y vegetales en ese territorio.

En ese sitio el presidente cubano fue informado sobre el inicio este viernes de la cosecha de papa con la que se planea abastecer a la capital y la provincia.

Al término de su recorrido, el presidente de la República visitó en Candelaria entre otros lugares la finca ganadera de Yoandrys González con resultados en la cría de ganado mayor, porcino, equino y aves.

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