(Shorthand Versions – Presidency of the Republic)
His Excellency Mr. Nikol Pashinian, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Eurasian Economic Union;
His Excellency and dear Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, our most sincere congratulations on your election as President with very high popular support;
Your Excellencies Heads of Delegations of the member countries of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council;
Distinguished guests:
It is always an honor to participate in these meetings of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. To that honor, today we add the joy of doing it in person in the beloved city of Moscow on a memorable day, when 64 years have passed since the establishment of relations between the then Soviet Union and the young Revolution of the Republic of Cuba, a bond of friendship and cooperation to which the Cuban people owe so much of their social and human development.
We are also encouraged to take part in the celebration – in the context of the expanded Supreme Council – of the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty (EAEU), and on the eve of the 79th Anniversary of Victory Day.
As we have said on other occasions, the Cuban Government attaches great importance to economic-commercial, financial and cooperation relations with the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states, based on the historical relations that unite us with that group of countries.
This is an opportunity to congratulate Armenia for the presidency of the Union in 2024 and Mr. Bakytzhan Sagintaev for his appointment as President of the College of the Eurasian Economic Commission. Our greatest wishes for success in the exercise of these important functions.
Likewise, I join in recognizing the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Government of the Russian Federation for the initiative of organizing this Summit in circumstances as complex and decisive as those the world is experiencing right now.
The agitated situation in various parts of the planet raises concern at the international level and calls us to action to contribute to the process of forming a new, more just, inclusive and equitable world order.
Cuba appreciates that the ten years that have passed with significant results in all areas of interaction demonstrate that the UEAA is a successful, attractive and sustainable integration project.
A reliable sample are the macroeconomic indicators, such as: an aggregate GDP of 2.4 trillion dollars; the almost doubling of mutual trade between Member States and the 60% increase in foreign trade turnover, just to mention some significant data.
Since its founding, and especially in recent years, the Union has had its projection very well defined based on development priorities, which can be seen in the approval of the Declaration called the Eurasian Economic Pathway and the adoption of a road map. route with the mechanisms and activities, as well as the deadlines and forms for their implementation.
Dear colleagues:
Cuba, from its status as an Observer State, reiterates its will and interest in having greater participation in the mechanisms of the Union to move towards deeper integration.
I sincerely believe that we all need better coordination to promote joint projects in areas of mutual interest.
In this sense, it is essential to promote a more systematic and practical relationship between the ministries and sectoral bodies of the Commission and the Member States and observers.
It won’t be difficult. The National Economic and Social Development Plan of Cuba until 2030 broadly coincides with the medium and long-term priorities included in the UEAA Declaration, with emphasis on the role of science and innovation.
The holding of the Third Joint Commission between Cuba and the Eurasian Economic Commission, in Havana, in January of this year, represented a milestone in relations, but also confirmed the need to turn around the actions to diversify the ties between our countries and advance qualitatively and quantitatively to higher levels in trade exchanges, cooperation and intra- and extra-regional foreign investment.
As you know, Cuba attaches great importance to government management based on science and innovation, and, even though it is a process that demands a lot of learning, I can tell you that we are making progress in its implementation. Without a doubt, the path of knowledge is key to the development of nations and, for the same reason, it is one of the lines of work in which we want to deepen relations with the Union.
We want to focus on strengthening these links, putting emphasis on the sphere of industry, tourism, technical and accreditation regulations, as well as sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary measures, essential aspects to be able to advance in the introduction of new Cuban products. and maintain the registry of those already existing in the Eurasian market.
We make available to Member States the experiences and achievements we have obtained in the field of the medical, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, for future collaboration in this field.
We can also join forces and continue advancing in the health and regulatory sphere for the circulation of Cuban medicines and medical devices in the countries of the Union.
We appreciate the possibilities of strengthening interaction in the industry sphere, based on the invitation received for Cuban companies to participate in the creation of instruments for the development of innovative productions and high technology and innovation, such as the eighteen digital platforms conceived in the Union.
We have insisted on promoting exchanges between the structures of the Eurasian Economic Commission, businessmen from the countries of the Union and Cuba, in order to establish direct links to identify interests in trade, cooperation and foreign direct investment.
It is worth highlighting the restarted exchange at the business level between the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of the Commission, which made it possible to define a joint work mechanism to promote the take-off of inter-business relations.
Dear participants in this Summit:
I wish to reaffirm once again Cuba’s interest and commitment to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union and its Member States.
We are a small country, subjected for six decades to an economic, commercial and financial blockade, intensified in recent years with measures specially designed to prevent the success of development plans and make the daily life of the people more difficult.
The unjust inclusion of Cuba in the spurious US list of States that supposedly sponsor terrorism has had a disastrous effect on the country’s financial operations, causing a very tense situation in the economy, which the Cuban people face with admirable courage and creativity.
Under such conditions, the historical understanding, friendship and support of countries such as those that make up the UEAA has an inestimable value, for which Cuba deeply appreciates.
I convey to everyone the feeling of gratitude of the Cuban people and Government for the vote in favor of the resolution against the blockade that overwhelmingly adopts each year the General Assembly of the United Nations, and that we will continue to present as long as that illegal, unjust and genocidal resolution remains. policy.
Those who block us will never be able to understand, and therefore neither prevent, the excellent relations between our countries and the shared vision that a better world is possible, and we can do it together, based on principles of cooperation, mutual respect and shared well-being, all values that distinguish this Union.
Dear Friends:
At the threshold of the tenth anniversary of this formidable association, we reiterate our congratulations, with the absolute confidence that the results of this decade and the decisions emanating from today’s meeting will serve as a basis to continue promoting and strengthening the sustainable economic development of all nations. involved, for the sake of greater prosperity for our people. In that endeavor, always count on Cuba.
Thank you very much (Applause).
