By María Josefina Arce
Cuba and UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, have just celebrated 76 years of uninterrupted, fluid and excellent relations, sustained by a frank and respectful dialogue between the Cuban government and that UN agency.
In 1947, Cuba officially joined the multilateral organization, and since the revolutionary triumph in January 1959, the ties have grown closer, as they share the criterion of contributing to the search for peace and the construction of a better world.
The Caribbean country has received valuable support from that entity in the face of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States, which has a particularly strong impact on the spheres covered by UNESCO.
In education, for example, the damages from January to July 2021 amounted to more than 30 million. The acquisition of school supplies, furniture and equipment essential to carry out a higher quality educational process was hindered.
In the face of these obstacles, UNESCO has supported the Greater Antilles to counteract the impact of this hostile policy, rejected year after year, since 1992, by the UN General Assembly.
Moreover, in Paris, headquarters of that agency, the condemnation of that criminal measure that hinders the economic and social progress of the Caribbean nation, and affects the daily life of Cubans, has been repeatedly heard in Paris.
However, despite the limitations, Havana has supported numerous projects developed by the UN agency, which recognizes the archipelago's leadership in South-South cooperation.
In this sense, it has highlighted Cuba's contribution to the elimination of illiteracy in the world with its "Yes, I can" method, implemented in numerous nations, which has made it possible for millions of people to learn to read and write.
The entity has highlighted the joint work to defend the common goods of humanity, which are education, science, culture and information.
Both UNESCO and Cuba are committed to consolidating bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in the areas of competence of this UN agency.
The commitment of both parties was summed up last June during his visit to the agency's headquarters by Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel, when he stated that "UNESCO can count on Cuba, as Cuba can count on UNESCO".
