Cuba Ethiopia Friendship
Addis Ababa, Sept 24 (RHC) Cuba's ambassador to Ethiopia, Jorge Lefebre, reiterated that his country is willing to contribute to the reforms undertaken by that African country.
There are many palpable social and economic changes, based on the government's will to improve the quality of life of all Ethiopians, he said in an interview granted to the nationally televised Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
We can contribute in different ways to accelerate transformation processes in this brotherly African people, he said, before recalling that "the Cuban Revolution sent more than 15,000 soldiers to Ethiopia to support the response against the invasion of Somalia".
Hundreds of Cubans sacrificed their lives to help safeguard Ethiopian territorial integrity and sovereignty, he added, and stressed that "thousands of Ethiopians trained in Cuba now serve their homeland in various careers."
Doctors and teachers also came to strengthen health and education. Now we commit to supporting Ethiopia in several areas, in addition, to the interest to learn from their experiences, including their quality in the coffee industry, he commented.
Regarding the recent United Nations report on the conflict between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the diplomat said that it is a political tool to put pressure on Ethiopia.
This document of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts is part of the continuous coercive measures imposed by the West to break the country, which is in a position to resist the pressure and accelerate its development efforts, he said.
Under the guise of the UN, Western powers are acting unjustly and producing such documents to achieve their political objectives. This could backfire and bring more social and economic complications to the country, he said.
According to Lefebre, "the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba is an example of how sanctions are devastating tools because they put the livelihoods of the peoples of third world countries in a catastrophic situation".
The U.S. sanctions against Ethiopia only affect the livelihoods of poor Ethiopians, he said, referring to several restrictions imposed by the U.S. administration with the alleged purpose of resolving the conflict between the TPLF and the federal authorities.
Cuba opposes any undue pressure on Ethiopia, he stated and expressed the Cuban government's commitment to strengthen its historical relationship with the African state and increase bilateral collaboration in international forums. (Source: PL)
