“අර්බුදකාරී යුගයක ස්වෛරීභාවය රැකගත යුතුයි” - ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ කියුබානු තානාපතිනියගෙන් විශේෂ ප්‍රකාශයක්

Jul 19, 2026 at 06:30 AM

|

Lanka Leader

වත්මන් ගෝලීය අර්බුද හමුවේ රටවල් සතු ස්වෛරීභාවය ආරක්ෂා කර ගැනීම සහ බහුපාර්ශ්වික ජාත්‍යන්තර සබඳතා ශක්තිමත් කිරීම අත්‍යවශ්‍ය බව ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ කියුබානු තානාපතිනි පැට්‍රීෂියා ලාසාරා පේගෝ ගුවේරා (Patricia Lázara Pego Guerra) මහත්මිය අවධාරණය කරයි. 

ඇය මේ බව ප්‍රකාශ කළේ කොළඹදී පැවැත්වුණු “Hands off Asia: A People’s Call for Sovereignty and Solidarity” (ආසියාවෙන් ඉවත් වනු: ස්වෛරීභාවය සහ සහයෝගීතාවය සඳහා ජනතා කැඳවීමක්) නමැති ජාත්‍යන්තර සමුළුවේ විශේෂ මණ්ඩල සාකච්ඡාවකට එක්වෙමිනි.

එහිදී අදහස් දැක්වූ තානාපතිනිය පෙන්වා දුන්නේ ලෝකය පුරා වර්ධනය වන යුද ගැටුම්, භූ-දේශපාලනික ආතතීන් සහ බලහත්කාරී ඒකපාර්ශ්වික සම්බාධක හේතුවෙන් ජාත්‍යන්තර නීතිය සහ රාජ්‍යයන්ගේ ස්වෛරීභාවය බරපතල අනතුරකට ලක්ව ඇති බවයි. මේ නිසා ලෝක සාමය රැකගැනීම සඳහා එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ ප්‍රඥප්තියට ගරු කිරීම සහ රටවල් අතර සංවාදය මෙන්ම සහයෝගීතාවය වර්ධනය කිරීම එකම විසඳුම බව ඇය ප්‍රකාශ කළාය. 

මැදපෙරදිග පවතින උණුසුම් තත්ත්වය පිළිබඳව ද අවධානය යොමු කළ ඇය, පලස්තීන වැසියන්ට එරෙහිව සිදුවන ජන සංහාරය දැඩි ලෙස හෙළා දුටු අතර ඉරානයට එල්ල වන නීති විරෝධී ප්‍රහාර හේතුවෙන් කලාපීය අස්ථාවරත්වයක් නිර්මාණය වෙමින් පවතින බව ද සඳහන් කළාය.

තම මව්බිම මුහුණ දෙන අභියෝග පිළිබඳව කරුණු පැහැදිලි කළ තානාපතිනිය, ඇමරිකානු රජය විසින් කියුබාවට එරෙහිව පනවා ඇති දීර්ඝකාලීන ආර්ථික සම්බාධක සහ ඉන්ධන තහනම (Oil blockade) හේතුවෙන් එරට ජනතාව දැඩි ඖෂධ, ආහාර සහ ජල හිඟයකින් පීඩා විඳින බව හෙළි කළාය. කියුබාව ත්‍රස්තවාදයට අනුග්‍රහය දක්වන රාජ්‍යයක් ලෙස නම් කිරීමට එරෙහිව පසුගියදා එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ මහා මණ්ඩලයේදී බහුතර රටවල් සංඛ්‍යාවක සහය ඇතිව විශේෂ විවාදයක් ද පවත්වා තිබේ.

එමෙන්ම කියුබානු විප්ලවයේ ඓතිහාසික නායක ෆිදෙල් කැස්ත්‍රෝ මහතාගේ ජන්ම ශත සංවත්සරය යෙදෙන මෙම වසරේදී, ඔහුගේ අධිරාජ්‍ය විරෝධී සහ මානුෂීය උරුමය ආසියානු සහ අප්‍රිකානු සමාජ ව්‍යාපාරවලට අදටත් විශාල ශක්තියක් බව ඇය සිහිපත් කළාය. අනෙක් රටවල් මානුෂීය මැදිහත්වීම් මුවාවෙන් හමුදාවන් යවන විට, කියුබාව සැමවිටම මිනිස් ජීවිත බේරා ගැනීම සඳහා ලොව පුරා වෛද්‍යවරුන් සහ හෙදියන් යවන සාමකාමී රටක් බව පවසමින් තානාපතිනිය තම ප්‍රකාශය අවසන් කළාය.

කියුබානු තානාපතිනිගේ සම්පූර්ණ කතාව පහළින්..

Speech of Cuban Ambassador Patricia Lázara Pego Guerra, at the International Conference “Hands off Asia: A People’s Call for Sovereignty and Solidarity”, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday 17 July 2026.

Panel V: “Defending Sovereignty and Advancing Multilateralism in an Age of Crisis”

Good afternoon

Esteemed Vijay Prashad, Executive Director of Tricontinental Institute for Social Research.

Esteemed comrades, leaders and representatives of different political parties.

Colleagues, members of Diplomatic Corps, accredited in Sri Lanka.

Distinguished guests,

Dear friends, 

Ladies & Gentlemen,

First, kindly allow me to express my profound gratitude to the organizers of the Conference, for the opportunity to attend and to address delegations from different countries, especially Asians.

Let me also say that it is an honor and pleasure to be here today, representing Cuba, and invited to be part of Panel V: “Defending Sovereignty and Advancing Multilateralism in an Age of Crisis”, at this prestigious and historical event “Hands off Asia: A People’s Call for Sovereignty and Solidarity”.

This meeting provides a necessary and useful forum that clearly demonstrates that the overwhelming majority of the world remains committed to unrestricted respect for independence, sovereignty, dialogue, and cooperation, as well as to the defense of multilateralism and peace, agreed to be the only feasible path to addressing the challenges of our time. 

The two issues included in the title of this Panel (Sovereignty and Multilateralism), are both very important, valid and sensitive.

The current international scenario is very complex.

It is marked by the imperial arrogance, extreme unilateralism, the proliferation of armed conflicts, growing geopolitical tensions, interventionist practices, doctrines that promote “peace through force” to the detriment of international law and State sovereignty, as well as the persistence of deep economic and social inequalities and the worsening impacts of climate change. 

Amidst that context, this event is a platform for us to reaffirm our commitment to peace, multilateralism and international cooperation, while denouncing the tightening of hostile and unilateral policies. 

In the face of these challenges, the continued relevance of the United Nations Charter is more necessary than ever today. 

In addition, the permanent denunciation of social and progressive movements of the world, is more necessary than ever.

The purposes of the United Nations Charter are the fundamental basis for preserving international peace and security, and for strengthening international cooperation as a means of addressing the common challenges facing by humanity.

Double standards, selectivity, inconsistency and political manipulation undermine the cause of international peace and security.

The list of countries of the world, particularly in Asia, which have suffered the consequences of invasions, naval bases in their territories, military aggression and unilateral sanctions, in flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, evidences that terrible reality.

The ongoing violations of the principles treasured in the Charter, including threats or the use of force, interference in states' internal affairs, policies of regime change, the imposition of unilateral coercive measures, among others, are contrary to international law, and attempt to impose hegemonic visions that undermine the international order and endanger global stability.

The defense of the Charter implies safeguarding the sovereign equality of states, the right of peoples to self-determination, respect for independence and territorial integrity, as well as non-interference in internal affairs. 

Despite this complex context, as progressive forces of the world, we must stay united and reaffirm our willingness to continue promoting international cooperation initiatives, including South-South, North-South, and triangular cooperation modalities.

Multilateralism must be strengthened, preserving the central role of the United Nations and promoting collective solutions based on dialogue, cooperation, solidarity and mutual respect. 

We strongly condemned the genocide against the Palestinian people and reiterated the urgent need to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East, based on the creation of two States that would guarantee the full exercise of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. 

We also share the international and regional concern over the growing instability in the region, particularly regarding the Israel and US illegal attacks against Iran.

Esteemed participants, 

My people have suffered and resisted (and we will continue resisting) the longest sustained economic aggression in contemporary history, which has become harder over the last seven months, under President Donald Trump´s Administration. 

It is a blockade that asphyxiates and kills silently. 

A blockade that is compounded by Cuba’s arbitrary inclusion on the list of States apparently sponsoring terrorism, as well as new coercive measures, including recent Executive Orders aimed at tightening the blockade on fuel supplies (“the Oil blockade”), with the objective of causing economic and human damage to undermine national sovereignty.

In the last few months, the humanitarian damage to Cuban population has intensified; families are suffering through blackouts, a lack of water and shortage of medicines and medical supplies, food shortage and the rising price of essential goods. 

Access to fuel supply is delayed by direct threats, unilateral coercive actions and intimidation to oil tankers by the United States military.

People with cancer lack access to life-saving medication and Cuba’s infant mortality rate of 4 per 1,000 live births, increased to 9.9 — deaths, in 2025.

Dear friends, 

As you know, some days ago, on July 7th, the General Assembly of United Nations resumed consideration of the United States’ decades-long economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, adopting an urgent proposal by my government to re-open the debate amid the “unprecedented actions of an extreme extraterritorial nature” being undertaken against my country.

The General Assembly annually considered the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, most recently last October, 2025, when it adopted a Resolution calling for ending the blockade, by a recorded vote of 165 in favour to 7 against, with 12 abstentions.

At the beginning of the meeting, last week, the representative of the United States took the floor to object to the Assembly’s resumption of the agenda item, pointing out that Member States had already considered the issue in October. 

The Assembly then voted in favour of holding an additional debate on the agenda item, adopting the motion by 136 votes in favour to 9 against (United States, Israel, Argentina, Costa Rica, Czechia, Morocco, North Macedonia, Paraguay and Ukraine), with 30 abstentions.

During the debate, the US Representative dared to mention Che Guevara, in a rude and desperate attempt to change the context, manipulate the issue and to divert attention of the General Assembly´s members’ states.

He ignored the powerful legacy, the values and the great respect deserved by Che Guevara and showed overwhelmingly to him all over the world. 

What a terrible mistake he made, unforgivable to the world's progressive forces, organizations and movements.

Contrary to him, as part of the debate, the overwhelming majority of speakers from the globe, in their national capacities and also representing regional organizations, stood against the blockade and its extraterritorial impact, as well as against the threaten to use and the use of force as a solution to international conflicts. 

I am talking about the Group of 77 and China, the Non-Aligned Movement, CARICOM, the African Union, the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, ASEAN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and others. 

At this moment, I would like to reiterate, my government and people gratitude to countries, regional organizations, partners, personalities and individuals, which have shown solidarity and continued support to Cuba.

You can be sure that Cuba will never renounce to its sovereign right to build its own development model, nor its commitment to contributing to a more just, supportive, and peaceful world.

We will never accept threats or the supposed and overwhelming imperialist “peace through force”.

Cuba is fully committed to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

Cuba emphasizes the responsibility of the international community to promote a truly just, democratic, and impartial order, based on respect for the sovereign equality of States, the right of peoples to self-determination, and genuine cooperation. 

Cuba strongly condemns all forms of terrorism, military threats, the use of force and unilateral sanctions. 

Cuba always promotes and defends peace, not war. 

Where other governments send armies with pretexts of humanitarian interventions, Cuba sends doctors and nurses, to save lives.

Dear comrades,

The danger that looms over my country today could befall tomorrow any of the nations of the world.

Cuba, a loyal defender of peace and justice, will not waver in its commitment to reforming and improving global governance, to building the truly just, democratic, and equitable international order that we need.

A new international order with solidarity, international cooperation, respectful dialogue, the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for the sovereign equality of States, non-interference in their internal affairs and the prohibition of the threat or use of force.

An international order free of blockades, unilateral coercive measures, hegemony and attempts at domination.

An international order that guarantees international peace and security for all, with full respect for the Charter of the United Nations and international law.

There can be no peace without sustainable, equitable, and inclusive economic and social development. 

There can be no peace as long as the inequalities resulting from the unjust international economic order — which are the root origins of conflict —continue to deepen. 

There can be no peace — nor a culture that fosters it — if, hate speech, racism, xenophobia, and ideological intolerance; continue to be promoted; if the issue of human rights is politicized against developing countries; and if, disrespect for indigenous cultures, history and the diverse religions of peoples, persists.

Promoting a culture of peace takes us toward a better, more just, and sustainable world. 

This requires the promotion of multilateralism and strict obedience to the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law.

Cuba reaffirms its commitment to banish forever the use and threat of use of force; to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes; and to foster relations of friendship and cooperation among the peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as between them and other nations, regardless of their differences.

Cuba knows the value of peace. 

For more than six decades, we have had to face the hostility of the United States government, its acts of unconventional warfare and subversion, for the sole reason that we have sovereignly decided to build a model of society that is an alternative to the empire’s designs. 

Cuba has been, is, and will always be a country of peace.

Finally, I would like to recall the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander – in - Chief Fidel Castro, in the year marking the centenary of his birth. 

On behalf of Cuban government, our people, and myself, I highly appreciate the sample of beautiful posters of Fidel, shown here, representing the 100 posters exhibition, dedicated to him, on his 100 birth anniversary. 

Fidel remains today as one of the most influential and controversial global figures of the 20th and 21st centuries because of his political, educational, cultural, and humanistic legacy. 

The undefeated Commander – in – Chief!

Beyond his role as Cuba’s head of state, Fidel was a strategic thinker, a revolutionary educator and a symbol of global resistance who continues to chart Cuba’s pathway and resonate, loud and clear, within Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean social movements.

Internationally, Fidel left a profound mark on the history of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. 

He was a symbol of anti-colonial and anti-imperialist resistance, and a champion of international solidarity.

Fidel inspires us through his example and by demonstrating that “YES, WE COULD; YES, WE CAN; AND YES, WE WILL”!

His ideas continue to illuminate the path for those who fight for human dignity, the sovereignty of peoples and social justice.

Fidel is with us today. 

He is present here. I am sure we all feel it. 

He is here alongside us, in every idea or phrase and song, in every speech, repeating with us “Hands off Asia”.

Beloved comrades, 

Current times require that we continue working together, united, to face world challenges and overcome. 

It is urgent not to stop calling for peace, unity and international cooperation in an increasingly complex global context.

A luta continua, vitória é certa.

The struggle continues, victory is certain.

Long live the Cuban Revolution!

VENCEREMOS!

HANDS OFF ASIA! 

Thank you so much