BRASILIA, Sept 16 (Reuters) – On his first trip to Cuba during his third term in office, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described as “illegal” the embargo imposed by the United States on the island and the country’s inclusion in the list of states. . of terrorism, a measure passed by former US President Donald Trump and maintained by current President Joe Biden.
The speech took place at the opening of the G77 summit (group of low and medium developed countries) plus China.
“It is particularly significant that this summit is taking place here in Havana at this time of great geopolitical change. Cuba is a champion of fairer global governance. And to this day (Cuba) is the victim of an illegal economic blockade,” said the Brazilian president.
“Brazil is against any unilateral coercive measures. We reject the inclusion of Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism,” he added.
The statement was made a few hours before Lula’s departure for New York, where he will attend the United Nations General Assembly and hold bilateral talks with Biden.
During the meeting, Brazil is expected to resume its historic position of condemning the embargo against Cuba, one of the proposals normally voted on each year at the United Nations. In 2019, in the first year of Jair Bolsonaro’s government, Brazil joined the United States and Israel in voting against the proposal.
Lula also used his speech to once again demand the investments promised by rich countries to curb the effects of climate change, as set out in the Paris Agreement but not kept. The president said developing countries do not have the same “historic debt” as the rich because of global warming.
“The principle of common but differentiated responsibility remains, which is why climate finance must be guaranteed to all developing countries according to their needs and priorities,” he assured.
