Renovation of equipment, new joint ventures and work in Africa. Cuban Ambassador on growth points in cooperation with Belarus
Benitez Santiago Perez Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to the Republic of Belarus Cuba continues to develop and build friendly relations with many countries of the world, despite American sanctions and restrictions. January 2025 was eventful for Cuba - the country celebrated a national holiday - Liberation Day. On January 1, Cuba became a BRICS partner country. In January, a number of American restrictions were temporarily lifted from Cuba, but not for long, just for a week. How Cuba responded to this and how the country is developing in the difficult conditions of a blockade that has lasted more than 60 years, with whom it is friends and what cooperation with Belarus means for the country - this is what Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to the Republic of Belarus Santiago Perez Benitez told a BELTA correspondent in an interview.
- Mr. Ambassador, this year marks the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, which helped the Cuban people become free and independent...
- Our people are faithful to the ideals in the name of which the revolution took place, and continue their path of socialist construction, despite any obstacles and difficulties. For six decades, Cuba has courageously lived under the conditions of an incessant trade and economic blockade, provocations and information attacks from the United States .
This is really difficult and affects the standard of living of literally every Cuban. The island has been under sanctions for more than 60 years, 180 km from the coast of the United States, and despite this, continues to resist, overcome and develop. This is an unprecedented act of heroism of an entire nation.
- Belarus advocates a complete end to the American embargo against Cuba. As noted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, our country has consistently and resolutely condemned, including at the UN, the unfair and unjustified inclusion of Cuba in 2021 by the Americans in the list of countries sponsoring international terrorism, because the absurdity of this step was obvious to the whole world from the very beginning. By the decision of the US Biden administration on January 14, Cuba was removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. However, not for long. About a week later, the Trump administration again included Cuba in this list. How does the Cuban side assess this?
- Despite its rather limited nature, this decision by Biden was taken in the right direction and in accordance with the constant and firm demands of the government and people of Cuba. As well as with the broad, decisive and repeated appeal of many governments, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, Cubans living in the country, abroad, from political, religious and public organizations, as well as numerous political figures in the United States and other countries.
However, less than a week after removing Cuba from the relevant list, the Trump administration has re-included us, reversing the positive changes that took place on January 14.
This step once again confirms the groundlessness and unconstructiveness of US policy towards Cuba, and demonstrates the true value of such American lists. It is an act of arrogance and disrespect for the truth, aimed at strengthening the economic blockade and achieving American dominance.
We express our deep gratitude to all friends who have condemned US actions against Cuba.
I would like to point out that the economic blockade and several dozen coercive measures that have been put in place since 2017 to strengthen it remain and may become even worse, with their full extraterritorial nature and in violation of international law and the human rights of all Cubans.
For example, the illegal and aggressive persecution of fuel supplies, which our country has the legal right to import, continues. The brutal and absurd persecution of Cuba’s legitimate international medical cooperation agreements with other countries continues, threatening to deprive millions of people of HEALTH care and limiting the capacity of the Cuban public health system.
Here is another example. International financial transactions by Cuba or any citizen with connections to Cuba remain prohibited and repressed. Commercial vessels calling at Cuba also remain under threat.
In addition, every U.S. citizen, company, or subsidiary of a U.S. corporation is prohibited from trading with Cuba or Cuban entities, with very limited and regulated exceptions. Harassment, intimidation, and threats against citizens of any country that seeks to trade with or invest in Cuba remain official U.S. policy. The U.S. government prohibits its citizens from visiting Cuba.
To our great regret, the economic war continues and continues to be a fundamental obstacle to the development and recovery of the Cuban economy, with high human costs for the population, and continues to be an incentive for emigration.
Cuba is very grateful to Belarus for its long-term support, for its efforts on international platforms, including the UN, and calls to lift sanctions.
- Along with such long-term large-scale sanctions, Cuba is developing and maintaining relations with foreign countries, including Belarus. How are economic contacts developing between our countries?
- Belarusian-Cuban relations have a long history, dating back to Soviet times. Traditions of friendship have been preserved between the countries, they have never been interrupted. Politically and economically, our countries cooperate and determine further prospects for interaction.
There is an intergovernmental Belarusian-Cuban commission on trade and economic cooperation. By the way, its next meeting is scheduled for May in Cuba, and preparations for this important event are currently underway. I would like to draw attention to the fact that the embassy's trade and economic service is open to initiatives and proposals for cooperation from Belarusian enterprises and business circles.
It should be understood that the Cuban market is not limited to domestic needs - products supplied from Belarus can be sold in other Latin American countries.
We are well known for the quality of Belarusian equipment, which Cuba has traditionally purchased since Soviet times.
However, as far as service is concerned, this issue is acute. For the Cuban side, it would be important that, given your good technological base and highly qualified specialists, Belarus participate in the modernization of previously acquired equipment that operates on the island. For example, we plan to improve about 50 thousand old tractors and 10 thousand MAZ equipment, as well as possible re-motorization of equipment.
Of course, in addition to upgrading the old equipment, we can purchase new equipment produced in Belarus. These are not only tractors, but also a wide range of other agricultural machinery. Its real customers are Cuban producers in agriculture, SUGAR cane, representatives of the construction sector, city municipalities, who are interested in tractors, buses, trucks, equipment.
We are also interested in the Belarusian experience of technologies in the production of feed, the creation of livestock complexes.
- In the context of sanctions, it is probably not so easy to resolve issues of payments?
- This is true. Not everything is so simple with payments due to the lack of cash. However, we are looking for ways to solve the problem and are working out payment mechanisms with the involvement of banking structures. There is a mechanism for mutual deliveries within the framework of the Belarusian-Cuban intergovernmental agreement with the Republic of Cuba. The conditions for the purchase of Cuban drugs in exchange for the supplied Belarusian agricultural and automotive equipment, medical products, food products are provided . This helps maintain an effective mechanism of mutual cooperation between Belarus and Cuba. Of course, we are promoting other mechanisms, studying the possibility of using national currencies and currencies of friendly countries in our relations.
- And which of the Belarusian food products are most in demand in Cuba?
- First of all, these are, of course, dairy products . Currently, about 20 Belarusian dairy enterprises have been certified in Cuba, and this is a very important point for the implementation of deliveries.
I know that Belarusian dry MILKis sold to many different countries around the world and there are prospects for Cubans to also use this Belarusian product. If we talk about the youngest consumers of milk - children, the Cuban government provides subsidies here.
In addition, Cuba is also interested in other types of dairy products, includingyogurt ,ice cream , cheese. In general, there are a large number of Belarusian products in Cuba that are widely consumed by our population, familiar with them since the times of the USSR and which are distinguished by their high quality, such as condensed milk, canned MEAT, baby food and others.
We can talk not only about their purchases, but also about the creation of joint ventures for the production of dairy, meat and other products. The potential is huge. There are many factories and enterprises in Cuba that do not operate at full capacity and which, using raw materials from Belarus or small financial resources, can be transferred to joint production, as well as consumed on the domestic market or exported. Belarusian equipment is known thanks to the ties that existed during the times of the Soviet Union. The task of Cubans and Belarusians is to rediscover the mutual potential that we have.
Obviously, the impetus that financial institutions can give us to launch small and medium-sized projects that are sustainable and self-financing is important.
- The pharmaceutical industry is one of the priority high-tech and knowledge-intensive sectors of the Cuban industry. And in terms of the level of development of the biotechnology industry, Cuba's achievements are noticeable in the world - Cuba not only meets its own needs, but also exports pharmaceutical and biotechnology products to dozens of countries around the world. How effectively is Belarusian-Cuban cooperation developing in this area?
- The Cuban government has identified social policy, including the development of healthcare, among its priorities. Therefore, great attention is paid to human health issues in the country. Having achieved significant results in pharmaceuticals and medicine, we share our developments with other countries. Fruitful cooperation has been established in this area with Belarus. Traditionally, a number of Cuban drugs are supplied to the Belarusian market.
Contacts are developing between the Cuban concern BioCubaPharma, the Belarusian pharmaceutical enterprise ACADEMFARM and the holding company Belpharmprom. My vision of the prospects for Belarusian-Cuban relations in this area is as follows: to jointly produce drugs and supply them to the EAEU market , and also to do the same with Belarusian drugs in Latin America.
Another promising vector of our cooperation is Africa. Cuba has long been helping African countries - we send the best Cuban doctors there, and also train African specialists. Considering that Belarus is currently expanding contacts on this continent, it would be possible to combine efforts for multilateral cooperation in this and other areas.
- The island of Cuba in the Caribbean attracts tourists from all over the world with its beautiful nature, sea and beaches, cultural monuments of the colonial past. Vacations in Varadero have been known for a long time. How many Belarusians come to you for tourism purposes?
- Anyone who has once visited our island will never forget its enchanting beauty. The island is washed by two seas - the Caribbean and Mexican, and the coastline stretches for about 4 thousand kilometers. About 5 million tourists came to us annually to admire the beauty and relax in the pre-COVID period, and the tourism sector accounted for about 10% of the gross domestic product. It is a pity that the covid restrictions led to a decline in tourism. But now everything is recovering.
According to preliminary data, in 2024 , more than 8 thousand Belarusian tourists visited Cuba, which is significantly below the existing potential. Given the increase in the number of flights from Moscow to Varadero and Havana, as well as the proximity of MINSK to Moscow (only an hour's flight), it can be noted that tour operators of both countries are not active enough in developing this destination. The promotion of Belarusian tourism services, including health tourism and spa treatment , on the Belarusian market also requires significant development.
I would like to note that Cuba has done and is doing a lot to restore tourist flows and develop tourism infrastructure, create new modern hotels and modernize existing hotels. For foreign investors, including Belarusian ones, these are good opportunities. In general, I believe that there is great potential in developing tourism contacts between our countries. After all, Belarusian picturesque places, lakes and rivers, and attractions are also attractive to Cubans.
I am sure that Belarus and Cuba have excellent prospects for cooperation in a variety of areas.
Alina GRISHKEVICH,
BELTA.
Photo by the Embassy of Cuba in Belarus
- Mr. Ambassador, this year marks the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, which helped the Cuban people become free and independent...
- Our people are faithful to the ideals in the name of which the revolution took place, and continue their path of socialist construction, despite any obstacles and difficulties. For six decades, Cuba has courageously lived under the conditions of an incessant trade and economic blockade, provocations and information attacks from the United States .
This is really difficult and affects the standard of living of literally every Cuban. The island has been under sanctions for more than 60 years, 180 km from the coast of the United States, and despite this, continues to resist, overcome and develop. This is an unprecedented act of heroism of an entire nation.
- Belarus advocates a complete end to the American embargo against Cuba. As noted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, our country has consistently and resolutely condemned, including at the UN, the unfair and unjustified inclusion of Cuba in 2021 by the Americans in the list of countries sponsoring international terrorism, because the absurdity of this step was obvious to the whole world from the very beginning. By the decision of the US Biden administration on January 14, Cuba was removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. However, not for long. About a week later, the Trump administration again included Cuba in this list. How does the Cuban side assess this?
- Despite its rather limited nature, this decision by Biden was taken in the right direction and in accordance with the constant and firm demands of the government and people of Cuba. As well as with the broad, decisive and repeated appeal of many governments, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, Cubans living in the country, abroad, from political, religious and public organizations, as well as numerous political figures in the United States and other countries.
However, less than a week after removing Cuba from the relevant list, the Trump administration has re-included us, reversing the positive changes that took place on January 14.
This step once again confirms the groundlessness and unconstructiveness of US policy towards Cuba, and demonstrates the true value of such American lists. It is an act of arrogance and disrespect for the truth, aimed at strengthening the economic blockade and achieving American dominance.
We express our deep gratitude to all friends who have condemned US actions against Cuba.
I would like to point out that the economic blockade and several dozen coercive measures that have been put in place since 2017 to strengthen it remain and may become even worse, with their full extraterritorial nature and in violation of international law and the human rights of all Cubans.
For example, the illegal and aggressive persecution of fuel supplies, which our country has the legal right to import, continues. The brutal and absurd persecution of Cuba’s legitimate international medical cooperation agreements with other countries continues, threatening to deprive millions of people of HEALTH care and limiting the capacity of the Cuban public health system.
Here is another example. International financial transactions by Cuba or any citizen with connections to Cuba remain prohibited and repressed. Commercial vessels calling at Cuba also remain under threat.
In addition, every U.S. citizen, company, or subsidiary of a U.S. corporation is prohibited from trading with Cuba or Cuban entities, with very limited and regulated exceptions. Harassment, intimidation, and threats against citizens of any country that seeks to trade with or invest in Cuba remain official U.S. policy. The U.S. government prohibits its citizens from visiting Cuba.
To our great regret, the economic war continues and continues to be a fundamental obstacle to the development and recovery of the Cuban economy, with high human costs for the population, and continues to be an incentive for emigration.
Cuba is very grateful to Belarus for its long-term support, for its efforts on international platforms, including the UN, and calls to lift sanctions.
- Along with such long-term large-scale sanctions, Cuba is developing and maintaining relations with foreign countries, including Belarus. How are economic contacts developing between our countries?
- Belarusian-Cuban relations have a long history, dating back to Soviet times. Traditions of friendship have been preserved between the countries, they have never been interrupted. Politically and economically, our countries cooperate and determine further prospects for interaction.
There is an intergovernmental Belarusian-Cuban commission on trade and economic cooperation. By the way, its next meeting is scheduled for May in Cuba, and preparations for this important event are currently underway. I would like to draw attention to the fact that the embassy's trade and economic service is open to initiatives and proposals for cooperation from Belarusian enterprises and business circles.
It should be understood that the Cuban market is not limited to domestic needs - products supplied from Belarus can be sold in other Latin American countries.
We are well known for the quality of Belarusian equipment, which Cuba has traditionally purchased since Soviet times.
However, as far as service is concerned, this issue is acute. For the Cuban side, it would be important that, given your good technological base and highly qualified specialists, Belarus participate in the modernization of previously acquired equipment that operates on the island. For example, we plan to improve about 50 thousand old tractors and 10 thousand MAZ equipment, as well as possible re-motorization of equipment.
Of course, in addition to upgrading the old equipment, we can purchase new equipment produced in Belarus. These are not only tractors, but also a wide range of other agricultural machinery. Its real customers are Cuban producers in agriculture, SUGAR cane, representatives of the construction sector, city municipalities, who are interested in tractors, buses, trucks, equipment.
We are also interested in the Belarusian experience of technologies in the production of feed, the creation of livestock complexes.
- In the context of sanctions, it is probably not so easy to resolve issues of payments?
- This is true. Not everything is so simple with payments due to the lack of cash. However, we are looking for ways to solve the problem and are working out payment mechanisms with the involvement of banking structures. There is a mechanism for mutual deliveries within the framework of the Belarusian-Cuban intergovernmental agreement with the Republic of Cuba. The conditions for the purchase of Cuban drugs in exchange for the supplied Belarusian agricultural and automotive equipment, medical products, food products are provided . This helps maintain an effective mechanism of mutual cooperation between Belarus and Cuba. Of course, we are promoting other mechanisms, studying the possibility of using national currencies and currencies of friendly countries in our relations.
- And which of the Belarusian food products are most in demand in Cuba?
- First of all, these are, of course, dairy products . Currently, about 20 Belarusian dairy enterprises have been certified in Cuba, and this is a very important point for the implementation of deliveries.
I know that Belarusian dry MILKis sold to many different countries around the world and there are prospects for Cubans to also use this Belarusian product. If we talk about the youngest consumers of milk - children, the Cuban government provides subsidies here.
In addition, Cuba is also interested in other types of dairy products, includingyogurt ,ice cream , cheese. In general, there are a large number of Belarusian products in Cuba that are widely consumed by our population, familiar with them since the times of the USSR and which are distinguished by their high quality, such as condensed milk, canned MEAT, baby food and others.
We can talk not only about their purchases, but also about the creation of joint ventures for the production of dairy, meat and other products. The potential is huge. There are many factories and enterprises in Cuba that do not operate at full capacity and which, using raw materials from Belarus or small financial resources, can be transferred to joint production, as well as consumed on the domestic market or exported. Belarusian equipment is known thanks to the ties that existed during the times of the Soviet Union. The task of Cubans and Belarusians is to rediscover the mutual potential that we have.
Obviously, the impetus that financial institutions can give us to launch small and medium-sized projects that are sustainable and self-financing is important.
- The pharmaceutical industry is one of the priority high-tech and knowledge-intensive sectors of the Cuban industry. And in terms of the level of development of the biotechnology industry, Cuba's achievements are noticeable in the world - Cuba not only meets its own needs, but also exports pharmaceutical and biotechnology products to dozens of countries around the world. How effectively is Belarusian-Cuban cooperation developing in this area?
- The Cuban government has identified social policy, including the development of healthcare, among its priorities. Therefore, great attention is paid to human health issues in the country. Having achieved significant results in pharmaceuticals and medicine, we share our developments with other countries. Fruitful cooperation has been established in this area with Belarus. Traditionally, a number of Cuban drugs are supplied to the Belarusian market.
Contacts are developing between the Cuban concern BioCubaPharma, the Belarusian pharmaceutical enterprise ACADEMFARM and the holding company Belpharmprom. My vision of the prospects for Belarusian-Cuban relations in this area is as follows: to jointly produce drugs and supply them to the EAEU market , and also to do the same with Belarusian drugs in Latin America.
Another promising vector of our cooperation is Africa. Cuba has long been helping African countries - we send the best Cuban doctors there, and also train African specialists. Considering that Belarus is currently expanding contacts on this continent, it would be possible to combine efforts for multilateral cooperation in this and other areas.
- The island of Cuba in the Caribbean attracts tourists from all over the world with its beautiful nature, sea and beaches, cultural monuments of the colonial past. Vacations in Varadero have been known for a long time. How many Belarusians come to you for tourism purposes?
- Anyone who has once visited our island will never forget its enchanting beauty. The island is washed by two seas - the Caribbean and Mexican, and the coastline stretches for about 4 thousand kilometers. About 5 million tourists came to us annually to admire the beauty and relax in the pre-COVID period, and the tourism sector accounted for about 10% of the gross domestic product. It is a pity that the covid restrictions led to a decline in tourism. But now everything is recovering.
According to preliminary data, in 2024 , more than 8 thousand Belarusian tourists visited Cuba, which is significantly below the existing potential. Given the increase in the number of flights from Moscow to Varadero and Havana, as well as the proximity of MINSK to Moscow (only an hour's flight), it can be noted that tour operators of both countries are not active enough in developing this destination. The promotion of Belarusian tourism services, including health tourism and spa treatment , on the Belarusian market also requires significant development.
I would like to note that Cuba has done and is doing a lot to restore tourist flows and develop tourism infrastructure, create new modern hotels and modernize existing hotels. For foreign investors, including Belarusian ones, these are good opportunities. In general, I believe that there is great potential in developing tourism contacts between our countries. After all, Belarusian picturesque places, lakes and rivers, and attractions are also attractive to Cubans.
I am sure that Belarus and Cuba have excellent prospects for cooperation in a variety of areas.
Alina GRISHKEVICH,
BELTA.
Photo by the Embassy of Cuba in Belarus