From Cuba, Colombian VP demands US end embargo on island

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: news agency
10 Feb 09:57

On a visit to Cuba, the Colombian VP urges Washington to take Cuba off the US list of "state sponsors of terrorism," highlighting the island's aid in Colombian peace talks.

Francia Marquez, Vice President of the Republic of Colombia (Reuters)

With a call for Washington to remove Cuba from its list of "state sponsors of terrorism" and to lift its embargo on it, Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez arrives in Havana to plead her case, stating that "a country that bets on peace cannot be a country that finds itself on a war list."

The first Afro-Colombian VP and former human rights activist continue to explain how the island has contributed “enormously to Colombia’s progress in finding peace."

She called for lifting the unjust blockade while referring to the peace talks Cuba hosted between Colombia’s government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which led to a peace deal in 2016 and the end of more than five decades of civil war.

"I cannot fail to thank the island, its leaders, and its people for having been the common home for that process and for their willingness to repeatedly support peace in our country," she said.

Marques met privately with the Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, who tweeted that he ratified the pledge of Cuba with Colombia, calling it a sister nation, on its search for peace.

"In a fraternal meeting with @FranciaMarquezM, vice president of #Colombia, we confirm the will to strengthen and diversify bilateral ties. I ratified the commitment of #Cuba with that sister nation in the search for peace. I thanked her for her presence in #FILCuba2023."

The Colombian VP further highlights the active Cuban assistance since last November, focused on conducting peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN), another armed leftist insurgency.

En fraterno encuentro con @FranciaMarquezM, vicepresidenta de #Colombia, confirmamos la voluntad de fortalecer y diversificar los vínculos bilaterales. Ratifiqué el compromiso de #Cuba con esa hermana nación en la búsqueda de la paz. Le agradecí por su presencia en #FILCuba2023. pic.twitter.com/oCn0YXPUZc
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) February 9, 2023

Amid the Cold War, Cuba was first designated as a "state sponsor for terrorism" in 1982. Ever since then, Cuba remains on the list along with Iran, Syria, and North Korea. The US is still on the hunt for adding more countries to the infamous list.