Before more than one hundred attendees, the diplomat maintained that Cuba is distinguished by “telling the truth,” which—in his opinion—has earned it the respect and affection of millions of people around the world.

He affirmed that Cuba has carried out “a single Revolution, forever,” because on that day, with the start of the War of Independence by Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (1868), a continuous historical process of struggle for freedom, sovereignty, and social justice began.

He stated that to understand the current reality of the island, it is essential to know its history. “Those who don’t know history don’t love it, and those who don’t love it don’t defend it,” he stated, adding that without this knowledge, the reasons for the Cuban people’s resistance to colonialism and U.S. pressure are incomprehensible.

Regarding the economic situation, Arzuaga rejected the campaigns by the United States and its allies that label Cuba a “failed state” and attribute its difficulties solely to its political, economic, and social system. “We are not a perfect revolution, but if there is a system that doesn’t work, then lift the blockade. If we are a failed government, why attacking us? Why not let it collapse on its own?” he asked.

Addressing the impact of the blockade, he remembered that during Donald Trump’s first administration, 243 additional measures were implemented against Cuba, also kept under Joe Biden’s presidency, in addition to the ongoing oil embargo. These measures increase the cost of imports and hinder the purchase of fuel, food, medicine, and essential supplies, directly impacting the daily lives of the population.

The diplomat reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to remaining a free and sovereign nation, dedicated to the well-being of its people. Meanwhile, the Solidarity Movement with Cuba in Santiago de los Caballeros announced its support for the Dominican people’s campaign, “Cuba is not alone!”

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