“Siege of fascist hatred of Cuban culture”

2023-06-02 15:01:06

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In recent days, prestigious Cuban artists and intellectuals have been the target of attacks, encouraged, promoted and carried out by elements of the transnational extreme right on stages in certain European countries. The most recent examples have been the reprehensible and unpunished harassment against the Buena Fe duo in some spaces in Spain and the ignominious revocation of the status of Honorary President of the event “Mercado de la Poesía” in France, to the renowned writer Nancy Morejón.

These manifestations of sick hatred are not new. A few decades ago, the Cuban people and the world witnessed a scandalous act of vandalism against the work of renowned artist Manuel Mendive, burned in the streets of Miami, and attacks against those attending a great concert by the Van Van orchestra in that city, which they could not prevent.

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Relations strongly denounces the fascist acts committed against exponents of national culture.

It also rejects the strong pressure, intimidation and blackmail to which businessmen, cultural promoters, owners of establishments and foreign cultural entities have been subjected who have been in charge of organizing the tours and presentations of our artists in these countries.

The Ministry recognizes that these are isolated events, carried out by minority groups, which represent retrograde forces of neo-fascist ideology and receive copious financial resources from organizations at the service of imperialism, with the clear purpose of denigrating Cuban culture and our artists, blurring the historical and patriotic memory of our people and their cultural identity, and destroy the Cuban Revolution.

In the almost generality of the international scenarios in which Cuban artists and intellectuals have been presenting themselves, even within the countries in which events such as those described have taken place, they have received the best reception from the vast majority of the audiences that recognize in them ambassadors of the best values ​​and expressions of our culture.

Cuban culture, which suffers the impact of the inhumane and illegal economic blockade, is the bearer of messages of peace, dialogue and tolerance. It rejects the barbarism, hatred and violence that imperialist monopoly interests try to impose from the United States and some of its allies.

Solidarity, peace and commitment to art will continue to be the premises of our artists, in the face of violence, impunity, fascism and the prevailing cultural colonization.

Cuba will not renounce exposing its culture in any corner of the world and in the face of each aggression it will respond with firmness and unity.

Havana, June 1, 2023.