Belize Prime Minister John Briceno Sunday called on the Biden administration in the United States to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsored terrorists and condemned its unjustified designation of the Caribbean nation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
He made the call at Sunday’s special sitting of Parliament during which he received the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel who paid his first official visit to Belize.
The Cuban leader´s official agenda included a special meeting of the National Assembly, talks with Prime Minister John Briceño, as well as the signing of two agreements.
This visit is the first by a Cuban president to Belize since the establishment of diplomatic relations on July 15, 1995.
Belize´s prime minister heaped praise on the Cuban Henry Reeve Medical Brigade that arrived in Belize in January 2022 as part of the bilateral cooperation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the Cuban president’s visit was yet another symbol of the deep bonds of friendship that exists between the two nations and people, based on mutual respect and principles of international law.
He said Belize commends Cuba’s steadfast commitment to provide immediate relief in times of emergency and longer-term capacity building to developed and developing countries.
“We note that these actions take place in the face of an unjust, illegal, financial, commercial and trade embargo imposed by the United States.”
“Belize also condemns the unjustified designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism to which there is no legal or moral justification for Cuba to remain.”
Prime Minister John Briceño said despite these challenges, Cuba’s support for countries to have a transformative impact on the growth and development of struggling developing countries of the world, including Belize “and for this we are grateful.”
The Cuban leader who departed the Belizean capital shortly after 4:00 p.m. Sunday said he was honored to be the first Cuban head of state to visit Belize.
He noted that over 100,000 Cubans have provided services to Belize since the 1990’s when the Cuban medical brigade first served the region. He said other sectors have also benefited from the relationship including education, construction, sports, and culture.
CMC/
