“We will strengthen the Russian-Cuban strategic partnership on the world stage by promoting trade and economic cooperation, providing humanitarian aid and strengthening people-to-people ties,” he told the Sputnik news agency.
The Foreign Ministry official noted that Moscow prioritizes transport, energy, metallurgy, agriculture and tourism in its relations with Havana.
He recalled that the cooperation between the two countries has “a long history” based on “comradeship and mutual support”. They have relationships with true friends and strategic partners, he stressed.
Regarding the US economic, trade and financial blockade against the Caribbean island, Schetinin denounced that such measures were an example of “hypocrisy and double-dealing in foreign policy” by Washington trying to build the world “after its own example”.
Interviewed by Prensa Latina news agency and Telesur channel in recent days, he mentioned that there is a group of countries that intend to build the world on their own terms and make international affairs hostage to their internal political considerations and interests.
According to the State Department official, the West’s actions reflect the impossibility of convincing anyone that their policies are fair and that they are not isolated from the international community.
He warned that if the blockade is used against a country that is smaller in terms of territory, population and economic potential, but “much stronger because of the spirit of its people, because of its unshakable patriotism and… because of the understanding that has a just cause before it, it has a just cause before it.”
“We are deeply sorry that what was considered a Cold War redoubt has become the practice of American politicians today,” he said.
He pointed out that Washington apparently finds it difficult to think of terms other than sanctions, unilateral restrictions and illegitimate pressures when referring to states that aspire to independent and autonomous politics.
He assured that for this reason Moscow will strengthen its strategic ties with the nation of the Antilles at the international level, in promoting economic and commercial cooperation, in providing humanitarian aid and in strengthening ties between the two peoples.
“And of course our resounding, categorical condemnation of the economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba in the United Nations tribune will be unwavering,” he stressed.
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