ALBA TCP calls on US to end blockade against Cuba

The Bolivarian Allliance for the Peoples of Our America People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA TCP) has reiterated their call that the United States of America put an end to the application of economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.{{more}}

This was one of the decisions made during the eighth Extraordinary Meeting of the ALBA TCP Political Council on the participation of Cuba at the sixth Summit of the Americas, and the rejection of the economic commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the USA.

The ALBA TCP Political Council consists of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of each member country. Its function is to advise the ALBA TCP Presidential Council regarding the strategic and political topics, and present proposed topics touching on international policy for discussion.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Douglas Slater represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the meeting of the Political Council held in Havana, Cuba on February 15, 2012.

Several other decisions were made during the meeting. These include the rejection of the declarations issued by the spokespersons and representatives of the USA against the participation of Cuba at the Sixth Summit of the Americas to be held in April 2012 in Cartagena, Columbia.

It was also decided that there will be a demand, during the Sixth Summit of the Americas for the cessation of the anti-Cuban policy and the lifting of the blockade against Cuba, in the face of the persistent opposition of the government of the USA to accept the presence of Cuba in the Summit of the Americas.

A decision was also made to fully support the participation of the Republic of Cuba at the summit and to express the expectation that the items included on the agenda and those proposed to be included, can be substantively considered and ensure the satisfactory result of Summit.

It was noted that the United Nations General Assembly adopted twenty resolutions which demanded that the government of the USA put an end to the blockade against Cuba, and the fact that promises of change made by the president of the United States at the Summit three years ago, were not translated into concrete action.

These and several other declarations in regard to the condemnation of the blockage of the USA against Cuba were observed.

The political council also reiterated its support to the demand of Argentina to claim sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands (Falklands Islands), South Georgia, South Sandwich Island and the surrounding maritime space. It was also stated that the issue of the Malvinas Islands, as well as other issues of particular interest to Latin America and the Caribbean be included on the agenda of the Sixth Summit of the Americas.