In an address delivered at the legislative headquarters, the congressman described the economic, financial, commercial, and energy blockade as a systematic genocide.

He emphasized that the effects of the policy driven by Washington take a toll on human beings, who face difficulties in accessing food, “who lack the energy to cook or run a fan, who lack the energy to keep their hospitals running—and many people are dying.”

“We cannot lose our humanity; we must oppose the systematic genocide being inflicted upon the Cuban people through the blockade that the United States has maintained for 65 years. We cannot base our diplomatic relations on ideological barriers,” he stated.

He also questioned why the current Colombian government is considering a potential severing of ties with Cuba, given that the United States—the very country responsible for the blockade—maintains its own diplomatic relations with the island.

“Let us remember that Cuba played an essential role in creating the conditions for the signing of the 2016 Peace Agreements. The department of Cordoba, for instance, has benefited from these agreements, as they paved the way for an agrarian reform that has allowed small-scale farmers to gain access to over 50,000 hectares of land,” the representative noted.

He also highlighted the existing collaboration between the two nations.

“I want to remind Colombians and the government of all the benefits we have received from the Cuban people in terms of education—specifically, their help with literacy efforts—as well as the technology transfers we have received, primarily in the field of medicine; this is something for which we should be grateful of”, emphasized Ballesteros.

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