The Cuban Handshake

Havana, Dec 10 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban Foreign Ministry (MINREX) categorically rejected the No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act, and stated that it is a new unilateral coercive measure against the Caribbean nation.

In a statement published on its website, the Foreign Ministry pointed out that the law, promoted by anti-Cuba sectors in the US Congress, reinforces the blockade against the Cuban economy.

“This expands the scope of Section 211 of the Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1999, which, according to the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization, infringes the international system of protection of intellectual property,” the MINREX said.

It also stressed that the legislation deals a new blow to the international system of protection of industrial property and confirms Washington’s contempt for the institutions of international law, in particular, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry stated that the No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act provides a patent of marque that widens the path to consolidate the theft of Cuban trademarks legitimately registered in the Trademark and Patent Office of the United States.

The US Government’s attitude contrasts with that of Cuban authorities, who have always acted in strict compliance with the international agreements on intellectual property to which Cuba and the United States are party, the text stressed.

The information specifies that currently, 6,448 US trademarks are registered and protected in Cuba.

The Foreign Ministry indicated that with the approval of this norm, Washington once again provides space “to the dark interests of the most aggressive anti-Cuba sectors whose manipulation of the US political system has become a practice.”

The MINREX pointed out that the same thing happened in 1996, when “the infamous and colonial Helms-Burton Act, which some also called the Bacardi Act” was approved.

With great participation in the drafting of the Helms-Burton Act and the so-called section 211, Bacardi shares the responsibility for the suffering imposed on Cuba by those who do not accept the path of independence and sovereignty chosen by the Cuban people, the MINREX added.

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Havana, Dec 10 (Prensa Latina) Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, said today that the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on his country by the United States for more than six decades seeks to deprive Cubans of their human rights.

Diáz-Canel so reflected on his X account, on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and praised his country’s achievements regarding human rights.

“To deprive the people of those rights, the United States resorts to the blockade against Cuba, while accusing the Revolution and socialism of depriving the people of those rights,” the president denounced on the social network.

In another message on the platform, he warned that the world should not celebrate Human Rights Day at a time when bombs fall on Gaza or Lebanon and ‘those committing genocide crown their crime by stealing more land from Syria’.

‘Let the philosophy of dispossession disappear, and the philosophy of war will disappear too,’ he wrote in X.

Despite the tough economic scenario and the pressures of the U.S. government and its blockade policy, Cuba strengthens its legal framework and guarantees the full exercise of Human Rights.

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Havana, Dec 12 (RHC) Despite the increasing calls for change in the United States, the country’s chief diplomat, Antony Blinken, has stated that there will be no policy shift towards Cuba until January 20, 2025.

Blinken confirmed this Wednesday before a congressional committee that he does not anticipate any change in US policy towards Cuba before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month.

He also reiterated this when asked about the possibility of the Biden administration reviewing Cuba’s potential removal from the list of countries supporting terrorism.

Cuba was first added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism in 1982 during the administration of Ronald Reagan, and it remained on the list until 2015, when then-President Barack Obama removed the Caribbean nation from the list in an attempt  to initiate a process of rapprochement with the island during the final stages of his presidency.

However, in January 2021, just days after leaving the White House, President Trump reinstated Cuba’s inclusion on the list, a decision that Biden has maintained. (Source: Prensa Latina)

Havana, Dec 11 (RHC) Broad social inclusion, respect for women’s rights, and rejection of racism and other discriminatory practices, were the focus of the debates this Tuesday in Cuba for the International Human Rights Day.

In this context, the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) defended its guarantees for the exercise of Human Rights in this population sector on the island.

During a discussion with a group of members, FMC leader Teresa Amarelle emphasized that the organization prioritizes the preservation, promotion, and safeguarding of women’s well-being.

In a recent statement, the members emphasized the importance of implementing policies and initiatives to advance women in Cuban society. These initiatives aim to eliminate all forms of violence and promote equality and social justice, ensuring access to healthcare and education for all.

Furthermore, they acknowledged the progress in decision-making processes and the respect for their sexual and reproductive rights.

As part of the Day, the University of Havana hosted a panel discussion on the social integration of members of the National Association of the Blind, the Association of the Deaf, and the National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities.

The event was attended by representatives of United Nations agencies in Cuba and focused on social inclusion, accessibility, and public policies.

The panelists discussed the progress made in these areas as well as the challenges, such as the need for a comprehensive law to protect the rights of people with disabilities.

Prior to the date, the Cuban Association of United Nations hosted a conference on tackling racism and racial discrimination, which addressed the obstacles in this field, the importance of honoring African heritage and its rich cultural diversity, public policies, and the impact of media and social media in eliminating racial prejudices.

The civil society of Cuba commemorated the International Day of Human Rights with progress in this area, 76 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of these principles.

The Cuba Pavilion in Havana was the focal point for discussions among activists from social organizations on the island, who work to promote and safeguard human rights for all, without discrimination based on social status. (Source: Prensa Latina)