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President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez

Raúl welcomes President Díaz-Canel home from New York

Raúl welcomes Díaz-Canel home from New York
Shortly after noon on Sunday, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, received the President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and the official delegation that accompanied him on his trip to New York, at Havana’s José Martí International Airport

Author: National news staff | | internet@granma.cu
october 1, 2018 10:10:35

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Photo: Estudio Revolución
Shortly after noon this September 30, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, received the President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and the official delegation that accompanied him on his trip to New York, at Havana’s José Martí International Airport.

Accompanied by José Ramón Machado Ventura, Second Secretary of the Central Committee, Raúl welcomed Díaz-Canel with a big hug. The Cuban President had a highly successful visit to the United States, which included his participation in the general debate of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, as well as several bilateral meetings with dignitaries and personalities from the business, agriculture and culture sectors.

TIMELINE OF AN INTENSE WEEK IN NEW YORK

Sunday, September 23: The Cuban President was accompanied by Army General Raúl Castro and the PCC Second Secretary, José Ramón Machado Ventura, to José Martí International Airport. He arrived in New York at noon.

Monday 24: Díaz-Canel participated in the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. In the evening, he visited Google’s New York office and held several bilateral meetings with different personalities.

Tuesday 25: He met with his counterparts from several countries, including Bolivian President Evo Morales, and showed his support for the sister nation of Vietnam by signing the book of condolences following the death of President Tran Dai Quang.

Wednesday 26: The Cuban leader delivered two important speeches: one at the UN General Assembly High-level Plenary Meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; and another in the general debate of this 73rd Session of the General Assembly. He held bilateral meetings with presidents and representatives of multilateral organizations, and in the evening he participated in a solidarity event in the Riverside Church.

Thursday 27: Díaz-Canel met with representatives of the U.S. agricultural sector, and the Chambers of Commerce. He was welcomed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and held a meeting with leaders of the National Council of Churches of the United States.

Friday 28: The Cuban President spoke with U.S. travel industry executives. He was received at the Dakota apartment building by U.S. cultural personalities, and in the evening spoke to Cuban émigrés at Cuba’s Mission to the UN.

Almost at the end of his extensive work agenda, Díaz-Canel toured the beautiful city of New York. He paid tribute to the victims of 9/11 at the Ground Zero memorial; as well as to Cuban National Hero José Martí, at his statue in this city; and visited the Natural History Museum and Columbia University.

blockade continues

“The blockade of Cuba must end.” Paul Laverty

“The blockade of Cuba must end.”
Paul Laverty, author of the screenplay for the prizewinning film on the life of dancer Carlos Acosta, describes the U.S. blockade as a disgrace

Author: Michel Hernández | michel@granma.cu
october 2, 2018 12:10:09

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Photo: From the film Yuli
The British scriptwriter Paul Laverty, who won the screenplay award at the San Sebastian Film Festival, in Spain, for the film Yuli, inspired in the life of Cuban dancer and choreographer Carlos Acosta, described the blockade as “a disgrace that must end.”
Upon accepting the prize, Laverty, who has written scripts for outstanding directors like Ken Loach, stated, “Some 58 years ago, the U.S. imposed a blockade on Cuba, a blockade that is illegal, that is condemned every year in the United Nations, and is only supported by two votes, those of the U.S. and Israel. Two experts in applying collective punishment on civil populations. Two bullies, shameless hypocrites. We must do away with this disgrace; the blockade of Cuba must end.”
Laverty joins the long list of artists and intellectuals who have spoken out against the blockade, such as filmmakers and actors Oliver Stone, Benicio del Toro, and Robert de Niro, as well as musicians like Manu Chao, Tom Morello, Chris Martin, and Chris Cornell, among many others.
According to official figures, since its inception the blockade has caused losses valued at more than $933,678,000,000, and in the cultural sphere the hostile policy has hampered interaction between artists in the two countries, and created obstacles to the acquisition of musical instruments, instructional software, and studio equipment, among other damages.
Laverty’s comments were featured in the press covering the festival, where Yuli was acclaimed, with members of the cast on hand, led by Carlos Acosta himself and actress Laura de la Uz. Also playing important roles in the film were professor and choreographer Santiago Alfonso, Andrea Doimeadiós, and producer Claudia Calviño.
Acosta (La Habana, 1973), one of the greatest dancers in the history of Cuban ballet, commented that the film, described as “dazzling” at the festival, based on his autobiography No Way Home, can serve as an example of perseverance for Cubans.
“It is the triumph of a humble Cuban family and can serve as a mirror for all Cubans who on a daily basis confront adversities,” he said.

Uncategorized

Díaz-Canel meets with U.S. congress members

Díaz-Canel meets with U.S. congress members
The President noted that the recent setback in relations, and in particular the blockade, harm the interests of both peoples and pose further obstacles to the economic development to which Cuba is entitled

Author: Leticia Martínez Hernández | internet@granma.cu
Author: René Tamayo | internet@granma.cu
Author: Alina Perera Robbio | perera@juventudrebelde.cu
september 24, 2018 17:09:27

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Photo: Estudios Revolución

NEW YORK.— The President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, held a meeting with members of the U.S. Congress this Monday afternoon at the Cuban Mission to the United Nations.

In the presence of Democrat and Republican senators and representatives, the Cuban President reiterated Cuba’s will to promote the progress of bilateral relations with the United States, and to take advantage of the potential of cooperation between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

He noted that the recent setback in relations, and in particular the blockade, harm the interests of both peoples and pose further obstacles to the economic development to which Cuba is entitled.

He also thanked those present for their efforts to facilitate a climate of rapprochement; and invited them to continue working in favor of that process.

Díaz-Canel referred to the current political priorities in Cuba, especially the constitutional reform process that is being carried out with the broad participation of the population, and with a view to updating the country politically and legally.

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Photo: Estudios Revolución

At the end of the meeting, the Congress members commented to Cuban reporters their interest in strengthening the commercial ties between the two countries, especially in the field of agriculture.

They expressed opposition to the travel restrictions that the U.S. government applies against the island, noting that Cuba is a very safe country.
They were also emphatic in criticizing the economic, commercial and financial blockade.

Brazil Latin America

Challenges facing the Latin American left

 

The right wing offensive in Latin America and the Caribbean demands that the left develop a “counter plan” in accordance with Martí’s ideas

Author: Yisell Rodríguez Milán | informacion@granmai.cu
september 13, 2018 10:09:0

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Calls for Lula’s freedom are being heard across Latin America.

Photo: Ntn24.com
Forces on the left are mobilizing in Latin America and the Caribbean to confront the right wing offensive which, encouraged and financed by the United States, is underway in the region, with the use of strategies meant to foment political destabilization and discredit progressive governments in power and former elected leaders.
Political leaders, intellectuals, and representatives of social movements are evaluating the unfavorable correlation of forces developing over the last few years, and charting action plans, taking the victory of progressive candidate

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in Mexico, as a positive sign.
“The storm arrived and shut the window opened at the end of the 90s… The question now posed, for the Brazilian left especially, is how to open the window again,” recently wrote Valter Pomar, a member of Brazil’s Workers’ Party and a professor of International Affairs at the Federal University, in his essay on how to move forward.

In his opinion, the left needs strong candidates to challenge the right in elections, but this is not enough since the strategic “utility” of legislators and government leaders rises and falls in accordance with political perspectives and the level of organization outside of the institutional environment, implying the need for a change in methods on the left, and a recovery of spaces lost alongside the working class.

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