Cuba condemns US interference in Summit of the Americas

Havana, May 27 (Prensa Latina) Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday condemned the interference by the United States and its exclusive criteria with countries of the region in relation to the upcoming 9th Summit of the Americas.

Speaking at the 21st Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP), held in Havana, Diaz-Canel charged that Washington is once again using regional forums to impose its hegemonic aims.

The Cuban head of State said that the US is taking advantage of its status as host of the summit, scheduled for June 6-10 in Los Angeles, California, to restrict the participation of nations with much to contribute to the event.

“The US practice of excluding is not new and proves its inability to ensure the agreement of a plural space, even when it claims to be an example of democracy,” Diaz-Canel noted.

Likewise, the president repudiated Washington’s disrespect for differences, and assured that the way to maintain hemispheric relations must be modified.

“Our America has changed, exclusions are not possible, the decision of not inviting countries constitutes a historic step backward,” the president emphasized.

Diaz-Canel stressed that in the face of attempts of selectivity, it is urgent to strengthen the mechanisms of coordination in the region for the defense of sovereignty, without interference.

In this regard, he insisted on the potential of the ALBA-TCP to strengthen unity and talks to address regional problems.

Diaz-Canel ratified Cuba’s will to move forward in the construction of a fairer society and resist the impact of Washington’s hostile policy, materialized in the economic, commercial and financial blockade against the Caribbean island and the political-communication operations.

The 21st ALBA-TCP Summit is taking place on Friday at Havana’s Palace of the Revolution without exclusions.

Diaz-Canel said recently that he will not attend the Summit of the Americas, which excluded Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

ALBA-TCP is made up of ten Latin American and Caribbean countries and was founded in Havana on December 14, 2004, by leaders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez.