BAKU, Azerbaijan.- Breaking the fence of the ever-stronger blockade of the United States and after traveling more than 11,300 kilometers, the Cuban delegation participating in the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement arrived in the port city of Baku, because today’s serious challenges require us to return to the role that, as a movement bringing together the majority of the planet, belongs to the Non-Aligned in the international arena.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said this when speaking on behalf of Cuba at the Movement meeting that brings together more than two-thirds of the United Nations and about 55% of the world’s population. Together with leaders from 120 countries, the Cuban representative highlighted the need to work together, attached to Bandung’s founding principles. It is our responsibility as politicians and no one will do it for us, he said.

The Cuban President considered that nations that have paid the greatest price for progress with their blood, sweat and suffering have every right to ask why military spending was increased, why the severity of climate change is underestimated, and why weapons are not silenced and nations are compensated.

Cuba is honored to be the first Latin American country in NAM. This concert of free nations, operating under democratic rules and without veto, is what we stand for and dream of seeing one day at the UN.

Diaz-Canel reiterated Cuba’s solidarity with all the peoples who fight for recognition of their free right to self-determination; rejection of America’s unilateral decisions in support of Israel and against Iran; and the call to end the war against the Syrian people and find a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The speaker also rejected U.S. campaigns against political forces, left-wing leaders, and progressive governments in Latin America and the Caribbean; and reaffirmed solidarity with Venezuela’s constitutional President, Nicolas Maduro Moros and the Bolivarian Revolution, and support for Nicaragua’s government in the face of American attempts to destabilize that nation.

In his words, Diaz-Canel congratulated the people of Bolivia and President Evo Morales Ayma on his re-election. At the same time, he denounced the coup attempt promoted there and the campaign of misrepresentation, destabilization and violence unleashed by opposition sectors and instigated by the United States.

World War III is not the next war. It is the war with no start date or calculation of end, which bleeds noble and peaceful nations for many years, with weapons of the imperial armies, mercenary soldiers and terrorists disguised as liberators, in the name of fighting terrorism, defending democracy, freedom or human rights. This is a lie!

In the 21st century, threats and aggressions of varying degrees rain on all sovereign governments that refuse to serve the hegemonic power to set up military bases, hand over their resources, or yield to their mandate, the Cuban President pointed out.

There it is the heroic Venezuela, Diaz-Canel reaffirmed, to which for decades they looted their almost infinite energy reserves, until the Bolivarian Revolution rescued them to put them at the service of their people and of regional and international solidarity and cooperation.

At the height of infamy and cynicism, the empire accuses the Bolivarian Government of being an instrument of Cuba. Because they do not practice or know solidarity, blind of evil and helplessness, they accuse our collaborators of health of being military disguised, and persecute and block trade among our nations, affecting the vitality of our economies.

The Caribbean statesman denounced at the Baku Congress Center that the United States breaks agreements, unleashes trade, electronic, media wars. They close doors, erect walls, confiscate assets, steal funds, ban exchanges. They do not know and violate international laws. They promise to make America great, their America that is not ours.

Diaz-Canel thanked the Non-Aligned for his historic position of condemnation and rejection of the blockade of more than five decades and the Helms-Burton Act. Against all human logic of coexistence in respect for differences, the blockade intensify by the day. Barely a week goes by without new strangulation measures being announced to our economy.

As pirates of other times, the speaker considered, the current U.S. government has extended its policy of encirclement to the sea, chasing and sanctioning companies, ships and shipping companies that transport fuel to Cuba.

However, he reiterated, we will not give in to threats and pressures and will not give up the effort to advance our project of building a prosperous and sustainable nation.

Diaz-Canel confirmed to NAM that the new generations of leaders of Cuba will continue the principles that for almost 60 years we have held in the concert of the nations composing it and that we have the challenge and the strength to correct imbalances that today put world peace at risk.

The President assured NAM members that only unity can save us. We are more. Let’s do more, he concluded. (Leticia Martinez Hernandez Taken from www.granma.cu)