The meeting witnessed important statements from heads of State in the general debate, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who described Cuba’s inclusion on Washington’s unilateral list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism as unacceptable.

Suriname, represented by its President, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, reiterated its demand for the lifting of the blockade, which she described as unjust and inhumane.

Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the use of unilateral coercive measures and also called for the immediate lifting of the unilateral blockade that has attempted to suffocate the Cuban people for decades.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro thanked the countries that “have helped us sow peace: Qatar, Cuba, Mexico, the Vatican City State, Norway, Brazil, and Venezuela.”

Likewise, Vietnam President Luong Cuong reaffirmed his solidarity “with the State and people of Cuba and called on the UN to lift the blockade on Cuba and remove it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.”

His Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenco, demanded “the unconditional lifting of the unjust and prolonged embargo against Cuba; on equal terms the Cuban people’s struggle was supported by David Adeang, President of Nauru, who urged the international community to “put an end to unilateral economic measures.”

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