BELMOPAN, Belize 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 the following:
- A special meeting of the National Assembly.
- Talks with Prime Minister John Briceño.
- The signing of two agreements.
This visit is the first paid by a Cuban president to Belize, with which he has maintained cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations on July 15, 1995.
Briceño held official talks with Díaz-Canel in Havana at the end of April 2022. Both leaders expressed deep satisfaction with the good relations and reaffirmed mutual interest in expanding the exchange areas.
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 off the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said that the Cuban President’s visit was yet another symbol of the deep bonds of friendship between the two nations and people based on mutual respect and principles of international law.
He said Cuba’s consistent and moral support of Belize’s right to self-determination and territorial integrity represents support his country has enjoyed before independence and continues to enjoy today and is recognized and appreciated by all freedom-loving Belizeans.
He said Belize commends Cuba’s steadfast commitment to providing immediate relief in times of emergency and longer-term capacity building to developed and developing countries.
“Belize congratulates Cuba for advocacy for others in the developing world in its various roles, such as the critical role it plays as Chair of the group of 77 and China within the UN system.”
“We note that these actions occur 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 Briceno said that despite these challenges, Cuba’s support for countries has 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 pm (local time) on Sunday, said he was honored to be the first Cuban head of State to visit Belize.
He noted that over 100,000 Cubans had provided services to Belize since the 1990s when the Cuban medical brigade first served this region. He said other sectors have also benefited from the relationship, including education, construction, sports, and culture.
He said today that over 122 young Cubans are serving some Caribbean islands in sport and health care, noting that they have also benefited from Belize’s English language training programs.
The Cuban President also thanked Belize for its strong support of the Resolution against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade presented yearly at the United Nations.
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