The press briefing held Saturday, September 16 began with a succinct presentation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Felipe Perez Roque, discussing general aspects of the 14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). It also covered significant advances in negotiations, which must conclude by the end of the day with the adoption of all documents announced previously.

Among other aspects, the Cuban foreign minister addressed the following items:

• It can be asserted that the Summit has been a success for the Non-Aligned Movement.
• The contribution of the Havana Summit in strengthening and increasing the role and the prominence of NAM. The Non-Aligned Movement is now in a position to work in a more united manner and more firmly in the defense of its member nations’ collective positions, in what should be its main thrust: the defense of International Law, the defense of multilateralism, the preservation of the United Nations Charter, the struggle for the right to peace with justice, and development for our countries.
• The Summit was attended by 56 heads of state or government and 90 foreign ministers, as well as other dignitaries and senior officials. Up to now, 84 delegations —including seven observer delegations, which also have a right to take the floor— have registered to take part in general discussion.
• The climate of unity prevailing during the entire Summit showed a high level of involvement and political participation, as well as depth and breath in all documents. Those texts will be approved tonight, allowing us to affirm that a virtual relaunching of NAM has occurred in Havana.
• Conditions have been created in Havana for a new stage of work by the Movement characterized by greater prominence and greater efforts to lift our voice and be heard in the international arena.
• The Movement, which emerged as an alternative to the two antagonistic blocs which existed during the Cold War, has updated content and work objectives, as was demonstrated in Havana. The objectives have also been updated and consist of the defence of multilateralism, opposition to hegemonic and unilateral action, and opposition to violations of International Law. At the same time, they call for the defence of the rights of all nations (irrespective of their size, level of development or power), the strengthening of the role of international organizations, as well as the reform and democratization of those bodies.
• All countries worked successfully to reach a consensus on all issues, including the most delicate and controversial ones.
• Yesterday, senior officials concluded negotiations on all of the pending issues. These were approved by consensus by the ministers of foreign affairs. There are no outstanding issues within any of these documents, which were negotiated and approved by consensus, not by vote. This was a sign of the favorable and unprecedented climate of unity and understanding prevailing at this summit.
• There is consensus on the wording of all issues concerning non-aligned countries. That was the principal outcome achieved in the Ministerial Meeting which concluded yesterday with the adoption of draft documents which will be presented today to the Heads of State. This is a milestone in terms of the policy of the Non-Aligned Movement’s scope and work.
• Drafts of the five documents which will be approved in the Summit are ready to be adopted by the Heads of State or Government. These documents are:

1. Declaration on the Purposes and Principles and Role of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Present International Situation. Without a doubt, this is the document with the greatest scope among those which are to be approved. From the conceptual, theoretical, and political points of view, this declaration is an updating and, at the same time, a confirmation of the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement. Likewise, it includes additional purposes and principles that have become a guideline for the work of the Movement over the last several years. This is also the result of today’s international situation. This declaration confirms the Movement as a forum of political coordination and agreement for countries of the South, to promote their interests, to enhance solidarity, unity and coordination among the members of the Non-Aligned Movement. This declaration will be the main guideline for the work of the Cuban presidency over the next three years.

2. Document on Methodology. This is a document of great importance which allows the ratification and institutionalizing of practices and procedures in the working methods the Movement has followed over the years. Having previously been adopted at different times, these were diffuse and did not constitute rules. This document, which will also incorporate new elements, will allow greater coherence and organization of work.

• As part of the document on methodology, the establishment of a Support Unit for the Chair will be agreed upon. This will allow it to overcome the fact that the movement has no secretariat at present, and will allow the movement to have and institutionalize a unit free of bureaucracy, small and flexible that keeps the records, helps prepare meetings, and gives continuity to the work.
• Likewise, a forum of ex-chairs will be formalized and the mechanism of the Troika —today comprising Cuba, Malaysia and Egypt— will be constituted.
• Final Document. This brings together all issues of interest to the Non-Aligned Movement. It is more concise than similar documents used previously. What can be considered new in this final document, with respect to previous ones, is that is oriented towards action. It contains a considerable number of measures for taking action.

Among the many topics that this document deals with are:

- support for the Bolivian people and government;

- support for the constitutional government of Venezuela;

- support for Cuba, and a call on the government of the United States to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade of this country; a rejection of the growing extraterritorial character of that blockade and new measures which toughen it; a call on the US government to return to Cuban sovereignty the territory presently occupied by its naval base at Guantanamo, and to put an end to illegal TV and radio broadcasts against Cuba;

- support for the extradition request presented by Venezuela before the government of the United States to bring to justice those responsible for the terrorist attack against an Cubana airliner in October 1976 which resulted in the deaths of 73 innocent civilians. In this respect, NAM opposes protection offered to individuals accused of perpetrating terrorist acts in Venezuela; this prevents Venezuelan authorities from compelling them to appear before justice;

- the reiteration that democracy is a universal value, based on the will of the people, freely expressed, to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural system, and with total participation in all the aspects of life; this reaffirms that although all democracies have common characteristics, there is no single model of democracy and that this one is not the patrimony of any country or region. The Non-Aligned Movement does not agree with the premise that preventive wars, secret jails, illegal international transfers of prisoners, the invasion of countries and regime changes are the paths towards democracy;

- the reaffirmation of the necessity to properly respect sovereignty and the right to free determination;
- the strong condemnation of the acts of aggression committed against Lebanon and violations committed by the Israeli government, while expressing solidarity and support for the people and government of Lebanon, and respect for its territorial integrity;

- on social issues and the development, an accurate assessment is made of the international economic situation, particularly that of our countries, and the positions of the Movement are reaffirmed concerning commerce, cooperation, financial-monetary relations; the fight against racism and discrimination; the advancement of women; special challenges of indigenous peoples, and the situation faced by less developed landlocked countries;

- etc.

The Final Document makes fundamental statements advocating the promotion and preservation multilateralism; it reaffirms that the United Nations, its Charter and International Law continue to be indispensable.

4. Declaration on Palestine. In this declaration, solidarity with the cause of the Palestinian people is reaffirmed.

5. Declaration on the Nuclear Question of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The text ratifies that which was already decided upon by the foreign ministers when they met in Putrajaya, Malaysia in May 2006. The fundamental and inalienable right of all the states to undertake the research, production and use of nuclear energy with pacific aims is reaffirmed in this declaration. It rejects the monopoly of nuclear technology, as well as hypocrisy and double standards; it rejects those possessing nuclear weapons upgrading and extending them, while at the same time prohibiting others from using nuclear energy to produce electricity, for medical applications, and other peaceful ends. The use of nuclear energy with peaceful aims is defended, without discrimination and in accordance with respective legal obligations. It is said in the declaration that the International Atomic Energy Organization is the only authority competent to verify the fulfilment of the obligations made by virtue of safeguard agreements. The declaration emphasises that there must be no type of pressure or illegal interference in the activities of the organisation that put its efficiency and credibility in danger. It highlights the need to protect the IAEO from the pressures, blackmail and threats that the government of the United States and some of its allies have been exerting on this international organisation.

• The Cuban chairmanship of NAM will be dedicated to trying to advance in the fulfilment of the aims and objectives that will be proclaimed in the aforementioned documents to be approved by the Summit.
• The debate has emphasized the need for the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to move from a stage of declarations to one of political and diplomat action in international forums.
• The Plan of Action under the Cuban chair is to emerge from the group of measures contained in the Final Document.
• The Summit is heading toward a successful end.
• The Movement is entering a moment of rebirth in its scope and activity. There exists a well-founded hope that the Movement will recover its leading role and member countries are confident that Cuba —with its experience as a founding member of the Movement, its international authority, its seriousness, its prestige, its relations with all the other member countries— can guide the work of the Movement over the next three years and allow it to continue the positive work that Malaysia initiated as head of the Movement.
• The 15th Summit of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries will be held in 2009 in Egypt.

Among the questions posed by accredited journalists covering the 14th Summit of the NAM were those touching on Mexico’s participation in the Movement; the publication of the documents that the Summit will approve, NAM’s support for Bolivia, references to the United States in documents that will be adopted in Havana, what Cuba will do to make the Movement stand out and remain united, the characterization of terrorism, as well as elements related to economic cooperation.

One hundred and twenty-six journalists from 95 news organizations from 48 countries, along with 34 Cuban press organs, participated in the news briefing.

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Summary of Briefing with Press

September 16, 2006.

Havana, International Press Centre for the 14th NAM Summit

Radio 13 (Mexico): I would like to ask you about Mexico's role within the Non-Aligned Movement and, more importantly, whether at this juncture, within the framework of this Summit, the government of Cuba, as President of NAM, will invite Mexico to join, to re-establish relations with the government of Mexico, now that Mexico has a new elected president.

Felipe Pérez Roque (FPR): Mexico is participating as an Observer country in NAM, it is one of the 15 Observer countries and was represented at the conference by its ambassador in Havana. As observer, Mexico is entitled to participate in the meetings, to take part in the debates, but not to vote. And if Mexico wants to become a full member, there is an established procedure within NAM which consists in applying to the Coordinating Bureau of NAM based in New York. In fact, before the beginning of this Summit, four countries applied for membership to the Movement and they were accepted. There are some principles and regulations that must be observed.

Radio 13 (Mexico): Is there any interest in re-establishing… (the rest is unintelligible)?

FPR:…well, that is another question, neither was it taken up in the debates during the conference, nor in Summit discussions.

TV Globo (Brazil): …(before the reporter asks the question, the Cuban Foreign Minister makes a comment)

FPR: Brazil is also an observer and Minister Amorio was here.

TV Globo (Brazil):…we’re following events closely. We would like for the documents you have mentioned to be made public as soon as possible so as to allow us to use them in the evening news.

FPR: We will do our best. We should bear in mind that we are talking about draft documents, adopted by consensus in the Ministerial Meeting, so they are not final documents until they are approved by the Heads of State or Government.

TV Globo (Brazil): I have two questions. Who proposed the paragraph in support of Bolivia? I would like you to comment on the significance of this support to Bolivia. My second question is about Raul Castro. With this Summit, the world learned a bit more about who Raul Castro is, his voice was unknown before and now we know he has a very powerful voice. Since you know him, we would like you to share with us your personal opinion of what Raul is like. They say that he is outwardly very pragmatic. In Brazil, the term pragmatic is used to mean the opposite of ideological, that is a person who does what has to be done first and leaves ideal considerations for later. Is Raul such a person?

FPR: In response to your first question: the paragraph about Bolivia in the document is the result of negotiations in the Political Committee held behind close doors and what I can confirm is the final outcome, that is, this paragraph was adopted by consensus, which means that it's a clear sign of support to the Bolivian government and people, a sign of solidarity at a time when external forces are attempting to tear apart the country, destabilize its institutions and jeopardize its democracy. That is, it condemns the hidden forces behind the conspiracies, the riots and plots against the government of Evo Morales.

With respect to the second question: I have to say that your question shows the lack of reliable information about Cuba that tends to exist, because Cubans are quite familiar with who Raul is. Cubans have heard his voice. What happens is that, many a times, the world is ignorant about events in Cuba and the truth about Cuba. Cuba's reality is distorted as the result of a very well-financed media campaign, which is another weapon that has been used against Cuba, in addition to the economic blockade and aggressions. Suffice it to say that, currently, more than two thousand five hundred weekly hours of illegal radio programs, which invade Cuba's radio-electric space and are contrary to the regulations established by the International Telecommunication Union, are broadcasted from the United States. Just listen to what is said against Cuba in Miami, how they encourage economic sabotage, the burning down of factories where people work and the assassination of revolutionary leaders. So what is happening in Cuba is distorted, Cuba's reality is silenced, it is twisted.

The experience of working with him (Raul), for all who have had this privilege, who, by the way, are many because he is constantly in contact with his subordinates, his collaborators, moving around the country, not only in his regular activities as Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, but also as the Second Secretary of our Party and as the second in command in the State and government all these years, is the following: Raul works directly with the people and his methods, like Fidel's, are based on collaboration, on encouraging people to give their own opinions, on teamwork and finding out the opinions of the other members of the team. We should not forget that Raul has been imbued with the teachings of the revolution , with the teachings of Fidel, like the rest of the leaders of the revolution, some of whom are still among us and some, unfortunately, not. And I believe it is very superficial to use labels such as pragmatic or non-pragmatic. What I can assure you is that Raul is a communist militant, as all of us are, and firmly believes, as all of us do, that socialism is the right system for our country. Like Fidel, he is a committed soldier of the revolution. Between Fidel’s and Raul’s political thought, there isn't the slightest difference, as there is not between their commitment, determination and will to give their lives for the revolution, to which they have both devoted more than half a century. Everything else is speculation, superficial considerations; sometimes even the enemy is behind all of this, trying to discredit us. Recent events have been a lesson to all of those who thought that without Fidel's active engagement in his regular activities, as has been the case these days, this would become Jericho, that the trumpets would sound and everything would collapse. And nothing collapsed, as nothing collapsed when the Pope came. None of the predications came true. We showed the world that we are an educated people who have taken command of its destiny, a mature people who are committed to the institutions, to the revolution, to the vision of the country that the revolution embodies. Where are those who oppose our project, how do they make a living, would it be receiving money from our enemies? It could only be in one place: Hiding under the bed or paying visits to the US Interests Section to receive instructions. And our people are calm and firm and tens of thousands are mobilized and ready, and the rest are vigilant and alert. That is why we are an invincible country, and that is why we have withstood aggression and pressures. None of this is new for the people, nor is it a surprise. The people knew that if Fidel was not there, Raul would be, and that he would be there until Fidel recovered and took over again. And Fidel has won another battle against the demons and is recovering well.

Reuters: In the first draft of the Declaration there were strong comments and many references to the United States. In the course of these days, we have been talking to delegates, people who took part in the conference and who do not necessarily see the United States as the mother of all evils in this world. Was it necessary to tone down the declaration? With respect to the two thirds or nearly two thirds of the votes in the UN General Assembly, and this is arithmetic, but when it comes to voting, of expressing those votes, it's likely that differences will arise. What is Cuba planning to do to effectively use that voting power? I can mention the example of the candidatures of Guatemala and Venezuela to the Security Council, about which Latin America and the world seem divided.

FPR: No one in NAM believes that the United States is the mother of all evils; many do believe that it is responsible for some; and not the people but the government of the United States, because, at least in Cuba's case, we profess feelings of respect and sympathy towards the US people. The Cuban people cannot forget that the child Elián González happily lives in Cuba with his father and his family and his classmates, not only because of the battle waged by our people and the international support we received, but also and largely because of the support of US public opinion, broad sectors of the Cuban community living in the United States who opposed the manipulation of that issue, that outrageous crime. The people of the United States are increasingly opposed to the blockade, it is opposed to travel restrictions to Cuba and support the establishment of normal trade and family relations. That is, we do not blame the people of the United States as we do not blame the greater part of the Cuban community in the United States.

Moreno tells me (referring to the Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs) that there isn't a single reference to the United States that was eliminated during the negotiation process; those included were there from the very beginning, many have been included by consensus and have been repeatedly included in previous Summits and events of the Non-Aligned Movement. Now, the Movement speaks out and there are times when the names of certain countries need to be mentioned because of the nature of the issue being discussed, so as to be objective and straightforward in our statements.

With respect to the candidatures, NAM has no stance, it is not a forum for that. Countries vote as a nation, though a secret vote, to elect representatives to elective bodies. Your question rubs salt in the wound. It is true that, many times, the Movement has splintered, has had a divided vote, we have autocratically admitted this in these debates. We have renewed our efforts to try and harmonize our positions and Cuba will try to do it with everyone’s support, we will try to go there with a united position. We are also aware of the enormous pressures exerted on many countries. We have been a witness to this, to how they call countries and threaten them with depriving them of credit, of curtailing aid, how they are brutally threatened in an attempt to divide the Movement. The Summit in Havana has examined this and has revitalized the commitment of NAM countries to work with Cuba in the presidency.

ITAR – TASS: Are there no documents about economic collaboration between NAM countries?

FPR: Yes, there is a large section in the final document on the issues of cooperation and collaboration. Because of time limitations, I have not talked about this but you will be able to see it in the document. There are some, I can assure you of this.

ITAR - TASS: I would like to know your opinion about the message the Russian president sent to the delegates to this forum and about the possibilities of collaboration between Russia and the NAM.

FPR: We warmly welcome President Putin's message. Russia and the Non-Aligned Movement have some common viewpoints. Our presidency will work to maintain the existing relations and exchange between NAM and Russia. But not only those. For example There is a dialogue between NAM and the European Union that the Cuban presidency has to take beyond our bilateral relations with the European Union. As president, we have a responsibility to head the Troika of the Movement. For example, next 21 September in New York, while participating in the UN General Assembly, the regular dialogue between the NAM Troika and the European Union Troika will take place. Cuba has been participating in these dialogues over the past years because Cuba was a member of the Troika. There is also dialogue with the Group of 77, there's even a coordination mechanism between NAM and G-77.

RNS (Colombia): How was the issue of terrorism dealt with?

FPR: The Non-Aligned Movement has a long-standing position on the issue of terrorism, it opposes all forms and manifestations of terrorism, rejects selective criteria in dealing with this issue, defends the idea that a clear distinction has to be made between terrorism and the struggle of a people against foreign occupation and also between terrorism and the struggle of a people for self-determination.

(Cubanoal) 16-09-2006