Cuban Ambassador to Turkey Luis Alberto Amoros Nunez, speaking in an interview with Démarche at his embassy office in Ankara, elaborated on the Cuba-Turkey relations, the health and medicine sector, Cuba’s fight against Covid-19, and the long term and hardened sanctions. Talking about Covid-19 and Cuba’s revolutionist vision, Nunez emphasized the success of his country in health and medicine and said “Cuban health personnel, doctors, nurses, technicians, etc., are trained under the principles of solidarity and humanism. For Cuba, medical care is not a commodity, it is a right.”
M. Ferhat Yüksel
How can you explain Cuba, its people and its culture?
The Cuban people are people of traditions and patriotism. We are a population of well-educated and cultured people. Our culture is a complex mixture of African, European and Asian cultures and influences. The Cuban people are known for their solidarity, defending their principles and independence at any cost, having a warm and friendly character, for its world-famous music and cigars, and a variety of other traditions and goods.
It could take hours to talk about Cuban people and their rich culture, but to sum up, We are the result of a complex and deep process of a mixture, forming the Cuban nationality in the context of independence wars, and defending the homeland.
Many Turkish citizens visiting Cuba to have contact with the Cuban people and our rich culture and to enjoy also the beauty of our country. I would like to thank the Turkish people for that.
What is the current level of Cuba-Turkey relations?
Political and diplomatic relations between Cuba and Turkey are at a great level. Diplomatic relations were first established 68 years ago and have been strengthened in recent years with political and commercial exchanges at the highest level.
The visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Cuba in 2015 is a great example. Later on, in 2017 the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla visited Turkey and in May 2019 his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoglu, visited Havana. It can be also highlighted that in January 2019, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay held an important meeting in Caracas, Venezuela. Also, Cuban and Turkish Deputy Ministers of different branches have exchanged visits. These visits contributed a lot to our tight political relations and enhanced the economic-commercial links in many sectors.
FIRST ATATURK MONUMENT IN LATIN AMERICA
Can you tell if you find any similarities between Turkey and Cuba so far?
Of Course, especially between our people and the struggles we have for independence. Our people share their friendly and warm characters, their patriotic and proud feelings and their kindness and spirit of solidarity. During our fight for independence, the determination of the Turkish and Cuban people to be independent at any cost was common. Many gave their lives for these patriotic causes. For example, Cuban people embraced the words “Independence or Death” and “Homeland or Death”.
I’ve witnessed the admiration of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro in Turkey, as a symbol of the struggle against imperialism and injustice. In his visit to Istanbul in 1996, Castro stressed his appreciation and respect for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the father of Turkish independence. Cuba has erected the first monument in homage to Ataturk in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a sign of friendship and respect between the Turkish and Cuban people.
MEDICAL CARE IS NOT A COMMODITY, IT IS A RIGHT
Cuba is a country with many doctors and specialists. How do you use this great ability to help to fight the COVID-19?
Cuban health personnel, doctors, nurses, technicians, etc., are trained under the principles of solidarity and humanism. For Cuba, medical care is not a commodity, it is a right.
Currently, more than 30,400 Cuban health professionals are actively working in 66 countries, distributed in permanent medical brigades and others as part of the Internationalist Contingent “Henry Reeve”, while the COVID-19 pandemic is causing the death of thousands of people every day.
Given the prestige achieved by Cuban doctors, many governments requested the collaboration of the Contingent to face the pandemic. Thus, 56 Henry Reeve’s brigades, currently 25 active, went to combat the SARS-CoV-2 in 40 countries from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
DOCTORS, NOT BOMBS
Because of the humanism and altruism, they have shown, many international organizations and public figures, including academics and even some political figures from Turkey, have nominated these brigades, founded by Fidel Castro in 2005, to the Nobel Peace Prize. As Castro said in 2003: “Our country could send the necessary doctors to the darkest corners of the world. Doctors, not bombs. Doctors, not smart weapons.”
LOW MORTALITY RATE
Cuba has been impacted by the pandemic, like the rest of the world. But our government policies, scientific research, Cuban bio-pharmaceutical products, an inclusive, free, and universal health care system, have allowed us to limit the spreading of disease. These also have been fundamental for the full recovery of almost 90 percent of people infected by COVID. It is also the reason for achieving such a low mortality rate in comparison with other countries in our region.
US UNILATERAL SANCTIONS HARDENED DURING PANDEMIC
This has been possible despite the criminal and unjust U.S. blockade of Cuba which has been hardened in an unprecedented way and the cynical smear campaign against our international medical cooperation. More than 240 measures have been taken against Cuba by Trump’s administration, including 32 in the context of the pandemic. Last January, before its term ending, the Trump administration designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism to impose additional obstacles to any prospective advancement of the relations with Cuba.
We thank the Turkish people and Government for the traditional support they have given Cuba in its fight against the US economic, financial and commercial blockade, including in the United Nations.
CUBA DEVELOPING 4 POTENTIAL VACCINES
Is Cuba working on COVID Vaccine? What is the current situation regarding vaccine research?
Cuba has a long experience in developing and producing vaccines. 8 of the 11 vaccines against 13 diseases used in the national immunization program are manufactured in our country. This ability to develop a vaccine is the result of decades of investment in the bio-pharmaceutical industry.
Cuba has four potential vaccines in development: Soberana 01, Soberana 02, Mambisa and Abdala, developed by two prestigious Cuban biotechnological research centers.
The most advanced one, Soberana 02, is due to begin Phase III trials in March with 44 000 volunteers in Cuba. Among other steps for clinical trials, it was signed an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran to carry out the last-stage clinical trials of this vaccine there.
This year a significant part of the Cuban population will be vaccinated against Covid-19 with a Cuban vaccine.
Other innovative drugs developed in Cuba have contributed to the low rate of mortality by Covid-19, like for example the monoclonal antibody Itolizumab, recombinant interferon alfa-2b (widely used in China to contain the virus) and the Heberferon combination, Biomodulin T, the Jusvinza peptide. In the case of Itolizumab recently received authorization to begin a phase III clinical trial in patients with Covid-19 in the United States, Mexico and Brazil. This product, developed by the Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) of Cuba in collaboration with the Indian company Biocon. It has proved to be an excellent therapeutic alternative for patients with Covid-19 in severe situations.
It is a source of pride to create not one, but four potential vaccines and other drugs, which soon will be ready to combat a deadly virus, created by a country under heavy blockades, for almost 60 consecutive years, by the U.S. Government.
TREATING TURKISH CANCER PATIENTS
Cuba is famous for treating a variety of cancer types. Is there a potential project that Turkey and Cuba can work together, or Cuba will share its know-how on cancer with Turkey?
We have achieved in Cuba a great development in producing innovative products for the treatment of some types of cancer. Some of these products have been used in Turkey, but it is the reality that they can be traded more and even produced together here.
I’m glad that Cuban and Turkish official entities started some time ago discussions for possible production in Turkey and the joint development of preventive vaccines and directed to the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. These efforts should continue and strengthen.
Cuba will also continue to receive patients from Turkey who are affected by particular types of cancer and will treat them, as have been done to many Turkish friends until now.
What is the extent of the Economic Relations between Turkey and Cuba?
Economic and trade relations between Cuba and Turkey are at a good level. There is a strong will to continue expanding and strengthening the bilateral trade and economic relations between Cuban and Turkish companies. As part of these efforts, there is a Follow-up Mechanism, chaired by the Deputy Ministers of Trade of both countries. At the end of the first quarter of 2020, Turkey was Cuba’s seventh-largest trading partner in Europe, with a big increase in bilateral trade in comparison to the same period in 2019.
Many Cuban companies have been interested in Turkish products. They identified new opportunities for direct trade on some relevant products for our national development economy such as mechanics, steel, light, agro-food industry (fertilizers and pesticides, bags and processing plants for chicken among others), as well as food products.
Turkish companies have also increased their interest in the Cuban market, companies and the Cuban Exportable Supply and Business Opportunities. For instance, Turkey was one of the three most represented countries among the thousands of foreign participants from more than 100 countries at the Cuba Business Forum, which took place online last December.
Also, we have cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding in different sectors that support our relationship, in particular in health, agriculture, food, industry, and communications. Last November, we signed a Maritime Cooperation Agreement.
BEING PART OF THE ANCIENT HISTORY
What is your favorite place in Turkey?
This is a very tough question. Turkey is so beautiful. It is one of the most historically diverse countries in the world. Many empires and cultures have left their mark on modern-day Turkey. It has amazing landscapes and ancient wonders. You can see fantastic places; many of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I can mention a few, such as Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Nimrod, Troy and Pergamum.
How to decide? One day I can say it is Istanbul, with the amazing Bosphorus which reminds me of Havana Harbor and our Malecon, but another day I choose Pamukkale or Ephesus or one of those unique places like Cappadocia.
It surprised me a lot to be part of the history books that I read and studied when I was a child. Knowing Constantinople or Troy, what a joy!
I have to add something very special. It has been to be in contact with Turkish people, so friendly, so warm, so patriotic.
How is life in Ankara?
Life in Ankara before the pandemic was very intensive, for example in terms of diplomatic activities, because there is a huge diplomatic community here. Also in connection with works with Turkish entities from all sectors, from economic and cultural to academic and educational one. Ankara is a big and vibrant city.
There are many places in Ankara to taste good Turkish food and to enjoy a nice time, listening to good music or even dancing. Let me tell you that there are nice places here where you can dance to Cuban music, which was a surprise for me.
How do you make use of your spare time or do you have hobbies?
Apart from work, and as a hobby, I read whenever is possible. I do exercise, mainly walking in different parks of the city, I visit museums and historical sites of the capital. When it is possible, I travel to visit other impressive parts of the country.
Do you enjoy being a diplomat or did you ever wish that you do another profession?
A long time ago I thought of being a journalist, but now as a diplomat, I feel better. I enjoy being a diplomat. It allows me to contribute to improve the relations with other countries and strengthen the links of their people with ours, which is very much rewarding. This is easier in Turkey because of the great friendship and sympathy towards Cuba, a mutual sentiment.
As a diplomat, I can defend and explain the positions of the Cuban Revolution, that as you know are full of humanism, solidarity, defense of dignity and well-being for all.
