DILI, 16 august 2021 (TATOLI) – The former president of Timor-Leste, José Ramos Horta, asked the United States government to immediately lift the economic embargo on Cuba.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner stated that, since the restoration of independence, Timor-Leste has been firmly opposed to this embargo.
”Timor-Leste’s policy will not change since 2002. Since the restoration of independence, the country, which is still very poor and with many problems, needs the help of the USA. But, on this point we do not agree with the economy embargo,” Horta said.
Timor-Leste voted in favor of Cuba, said Ramos Horta, as part of the commemoration of the birthday of the former Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, at the Cuban Embassy in Farol.
Ramos Horta added that support for Cuba will have no impact on friendly relations between Timor-Leste and the US as so far the US government has helped the country’s economic and infrastructure progress.
“Today, US government aid continues to grow. In that case, there is no impact. What the US did to Cuba was against human rights. This embargo implies that country’s inability to receive aid from abroad and buy medicines from Europe,” he added.
The representative of the Cuban Embassy, José Ernesto, thanked the Timorese solidarity action against the economic sanctions of the United States.
“We enjoyed this action at a difficult time. Through it, we feel that our country still has the support of friends. This action proves that Fidel Casto’s spirit is still with us,” he said.
According to Jose Ernesto, these sanctions cause great suffering in Cuba, especially in the economic sector, and have an impact on Cuban society in general.
Although this violates human rights and some Americans do not accept it, until now, the US Government has not lifted these sanctions.
The secretary of the AATLC, Herculano Seixas dos Santos, also said that this action is a routine activity, within the scope of cooperation between the two countries in the areas of health and education.
“We demandthe US to end the economic blockade on Cuba. Cuba helped Timor-Leste a lot. Therefore, what they feel in Cuba, we felt too,”said
The event was attended by former President Ramos Horta, former Timor-Leste ambassador to Cuba, Loro Horta, Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic, Francisco Maria de Vasconcelos, former Timorese scholarship holders in Cuba, representatives of civic society, among others.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosário
Editor: Zezito Silva
Translator: José Belarmino De Sá
