Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Republic of Cuba in Ukraine Felix Leon CARBALLO: “WE ACTUALLY CAME FROM DIFFERENT SHIPS AND BUILT A SHIP OF OUR OWN – NATIONAL”

It seems not long ago that no New Year passed for us without mentioning distant Cuba. Each time it felt like we entered a new year with cheerful smile of Cubans. On the Island of Liberty much was told about the 1^st of January – Liberation Day in holiday editions of local newspapers, radio and TV. Unfortunately, the tradition of common New Year has perished. But many Ukrainians keep good and grateful memories about the island of Cuba − a “ship” in endless ocean.

“We`ve all got off a ship”, − that`s figurative expression about origin of Cubans of one of the most famous Cuban writer in the world Alejo Carpentier. And still the heterogeneous mixture of expatriates from different tribes and nations of the world, who were brought to the Cuban cost by their destiny at different times, has turned into powerful unity, which gave birth to the conception of historic unity of nation and Cuban nationality. This gave reason to another outstanding thinker of the Liberty Island Don Fernando Ortiz - to call such phenomenon “transculturation”.

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Republic of Cuba in Ukraine Felix Leon Carballo

Cuban people has crossed the half century border of its national independence – 50^th anniversary of its sovereign state. We will learn about it during our talk with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Republic of Cuba in Ukraine Felix Leon CARBALLO.

— Mr. Ambassador, with what mood did Cuban people meet the golden anniversary of its independence? What dreams inspire it on the eve of the second half of its hundredth anniversary?

— Today is the day of new hopes and expectations in Cuba. And the National Liberation Day is the base of independent sovereign Cuba. For a long time the country was under colonial suppression of Spain, which was replaced by 59-year-long semi colonial suppression of the USA. And only the 1st of January 1959 set the start to really sovereign history of Cuban people. Although we always, every minute have to fight for this freedom. Unfortunately, the world is rather cruel. But Cuba strictly sticks to its main after-revolution aim – respect and defense of rights of its citizens. One can be easily assured of that if he inquires how the country defends the main human right – the right to live. Before the revolution 60 out of 1000 newly-born Cubans died, now – 5.3. If on the eve of Independence average duration of life of Cubans was 59 years, now it is 79. Let`s agree this means a lot.

Cuba reached its golden anniversary in extremely bad economic condition. Just before the celebration two hurricanes of extraordinary strength impaired us for 10 milliard dollars. This is huge figure for little Cuba. The disaster destroyed 65 thousand dwelling houses and partially damaged 444 ones. We were left without agriculture. Thousands and thousands communication channels were de-energized and destroyed. But little by little Cuba was reborn, people worked double tides and results of this integrated work impulse are evident. Our foreign friends also helped us a lot – Spain, Russia, Venezuela, Vietnam, Brazil, China. Ukraine also did not forget about Cuba, providing with humanitarian aid, for what we are very grateful.

In a difficult situation the very fact of empathy, solidarity and implication of the world community is very important. So Cubans are always in good mood.

— For several decades Ukraine and Cuba were situated under the same socialist “umbrella”. Red carnation was considered our revolutionary symbol and Cuban revolt is symbolized by the white flower of mariposa. Why do you think the same idea has different colors?

— The century before last, during the epoch of Spanish colonialism, many Cuban women fought in rows of the rebel army. They decorated themselves by plaiting white mariposa into their hair. Since then the flower has become the symbol of struggle for national independence, symbol of bright and kind hopes.

— After impetuous disintegration of the USSR, change of political and economic course of most countries of the former USSR, Cuba remained very lonely on its “ship” in distant ocean.

— Yes, but it did not give up its ideas. Making wellbeing of its citizens its main priority, the country started to get over this extremely harsh crisis slowly.

1993-1994 years were the most difficult for us. Gross domestic product decreased for 34%. We lost outlets of our national production, sources of supply of energy resources, machinery – in a word, everything that we had bought from socialist countries. Consequently, our transport wasn`t used, long interruptions with energy supply became usual thing. But in 1998 Cuba got its first economic growth of Gross National Product for the last years – 4-5%. With the beginning of the new Millennium annual growth of national economy has been kept at the level of 8%.

— Evidently, it was preceded by certain restructuring of national economy? At least, huge embankments of Cuban sugar have not been seen in Odessa Trade Port for a long time.

— Yes, we had to correct internal economic priorities, chose not traditional way of acting to a certain extent. Finding ourselves in the grip of market economy, we took from it only a little part that we considered useful for us, but at the same time we kept its plan system. And we stopped being a country, economy of which depends on export of sugar. If world prices for provision keep increasing, but stay steadily low for sugar, I guess it`s time to take care of its better use. Let`s say, produce more sugar out of sugar material and turn it into Cuban rum, which is more popular in the world. Although our sugar is still exported to Vietnam and China, where there is demand for it.

Development of bio technologies became much more important for Cuba – state budget annually gets over million dollars from this segment, in particular from export of medications. Profitable nickel industry has got intensive development, since the country is rich in deposits of this mineral. We efficiently cooperate with Canadian specialists in this sphere. And, actually, not just with them. Cuba is open for foreign investments. New joint ventures are created and function in all spheres, except for military, health care and education. Oil production is a typical example. Before disintegration of the USSR Cuba had 200 thousand tons of its own oil production per year, now it covers half the amount of national use on its own. Intensive exploration of shelf in Cuban part of the Gulf of Mexico is going on. Spanish, Norwegians, Brazilians, Chinese, Hindus have acted as our partners… Russian companies “Gazprom” and “Lukoil” are likely to join them in the nearest future.

Touristic sphere is developing rapidly – we have wonderful conditions for rest and recreation, so number of tourists, wishing to visit Cuba, increases every year.

— Will the obtained hardening and experience, gained after disintegration of the socialist camp, help Cuba to resist this new world financial crisis? What in Cuban experience can be instructive for Ukraine?

— Cuba thought and life proves it in practice, that the model of management, which “some of the supporting us governments” tried to impose on us, according to comrade Fidel`s words, is doomed to be a failure. Neo liberalism, which had been propagandized as the best existing thing in the world of economics for 15 years, reached the following result: world financial crisis and burst of all financial bubbles.

Nowadays, the opposite process is going on – nationalization of economics. Even the most powerful and leading states actively nationalize companies and banks, which crushed under the pressure of crisis. The current crisis has not affected Cuba yet, like a number of countries of Latin America, where the role of the state was more substantial or has strengthened lately – Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador.

Though, of course, Cubans are not isolated from the rest of the world in a vacuum pack. If recession of world economic keeps increasing, then, let`s say demand for our nickel may diminish on a certain stage or its price will decrease. In other words, Cuba is also in the crisis zone. But it does not bring so much damage for the reasons that I have just mentioned.

— Does it mean that commercial – trade relations between Cuba and Ukraine has got so-called Cuban insurance?

— We have always had very good and warm relationship with Ukraine. In contrast to our relationship with most countries of the former socialist camp – for some reason almost all of them have lost Cuba. To be more exact, certain rupture occurred between us, despite tight working partnership for almost 30 years.

As to Ukrainian-Cuban cooperation, of course, now it is not as efficient as it used to be, when a thousand and a half of your enterprises exported their production to the Island of Liberty. However, qualitatively new outlines of partnership develop now; new opportunities emerge, which give powerful impulse for development of our bilateral relations. And first of all in trade and commercial sphere. Despite the crisis, we keep buying a lot of Ukrainian metal and mineral fertilizers and big batches of medications are brought to Ukraine from Cuba…

— Weren`t you alerted and weren`t mutual plans destroyed by the fact that on the very first stage of the economic crisis about 500 Kiev drug- stores were closed because of this crisis?

— I think there is broad field of activity for intergovernmental commission of our countries; it has enough work to do. It indicated the priorities, effective bilateral business relations. On the other hand, Cuba produces many goods, which have no analogues in the world, for example vaccines from throat and lungs cancer. Our vaccine for Hepatitis “B” has been known in Ukraine for a long time… So we are talking about things that no crisis can influence.

There are other powerful and essential projects. For example contract with Ukrainian “KRAZ” has been signed − this holding will take up modernization and repair of several thousands of cars of this trademark, which have been efficiently used in Cuba for several years. Production of “KRAZ” cars of new generation will start on the island soon.

So, I cannot say that Cuba and Ukraine have lost each other in restless, partially random whirlpool of the last years. I still keep good memories of Ukrainians, who helped Cubans to build plants and factories at due time. With the same respect I treat present-day Ukraine, which has formed as a stable state in the center of Europe and has wide world recognition. I have very responsible mission – to raise our bilateral relations to a substantially higher level.

— At the beginning of his trip any traveler set certain top priority for himself. Mr. Felix, you have arrived at Ukraine with diplomatic mission quite recently…

— For now my main priority is opening of direct air flights from Kiev to Havana. This is objective reality. Ukrainian touristic flow to Cuba is rather active. But it is troublesome and more expensive for tourists to get to the island via Paris, Amsterdam or Moscow. Absence of direct flights damps ardor of the others. Let alone the fact that so-called “medical tours” develop very inertly, although the whole world strives to get medical help from Cuban doctors.

— How fair is the statement of the UNO that without Cuban medicine, without its help many countries of Latin America risk to get into serious trouble?

— Over 30 thousand Cuban doctors and other medical personnel work in 70 countries of the world. They work for free. That means Cuba supports them with its own means and in many cases we take the expenses for air flights of our medical personnel. This is our help to poor and developing countries. Some territories of Latin America also belong to them. Operation “Miracle”, run by Cuba in that region, enabled to return healthy vision to more than two million of local citizens.

At the same time, Cuba sells its medical services to those countries, which are capable and ready to pay for them. For example, 18 thousand Cuban doctors work on contract base in Venezuela and Cuba gets oil for that. Similar schemes work with Algeria, China, South African Republic.

— Mr. Ambassador, you did not mention the most important thing for Ukrainians: for 19 years little Cuba has been unselfishly giving part of its big heart, filled with love and kindness, to Ukrainian children. Probably, this subject deserves detailed separate discussion, although from time to time our domestic Mass Media inform about the noble deed of the Island of Liberty – healing of our children, who suffered from effects of Chernobyl Disaster. But tell me the main thing: why did Cuba decide to help?

— This was personal initiative of Comrade Fidel to offer help to children after Chernobyl Disaster. Over 25 thousand of little Ukrainians have visited us since then. The program is financed exclusively by Cuban side − it includes accommodation, feeding and medical treatment of children. Ukraine only covers flight expenses.

At first it was hard both for children and doctors. Those were extremely harsh years of economic crisis and young patients had to survive complicated surgical operations, up to transplantation of bone marrow. The situation has improved greatly by now. But the specialized sanatorium “Tarari”, 30 km. away from Havana is still filled with Ukrainian children. During each 45-days shift 250-300 patients get medical treatment on permanent base there. If there is further demand for our doctors` help, “Tarari” will accept young Ukrainians as long as necessary.

— Won`t one of the most famous national products of your country – cigars – suffer because smoking is harmful for health? I mean the strict resolution about struggle with smoking, accepted by European countries. By the way, Ukraine has also taken the commitment. Although the Head of “Cubatobaco” – the company, owning the right of distribution of Cuban cigars all over the world – mentioned once:” No one produces better cigars than Havana plants.”

— I think the Head of “Cubatobaco” is right. A Cuban cigar is rather certain preference, peculiar culture of behavior, even ceremony than simply smoking. It has many fans, which is confirmed by 150 million dollars of annual income of Cuba. Smoking area is another problem, it shouldn`t impair rights of non-smokers. We have also implemented certain restrictions in this regard.

By the way, the same can be said about Cuban rum. If not used in excessive amounts, it is not just tasty, but also useful for health.

— If I don`t ask you about the biggest fan of Cuban cigars and rum “Daddy Ham”, you will surely consider me either an ignoramus or a person, who does not respect cultural and spiritual heritage of Cuba.

So, about the heritage. How effective are negotiations between Cuba and the USA, connected with archives of Ernest Hemingway − not just American writer and laureate of the Noble Prize in the field of literature, but also a man, who lived in Cuba for 20 years and considered himself Cuban?

— “Daddy Ham” liked to taste the famous now drink “daiquiri” in Havana restaurant “Floridita”. And to taste one of the best Hemingway`s drinks “mojito”, tourists visit the restaurant “La Bodeguita Del Medio”. By the way, its branch, with so beloved by Hemingway appeals, will soon be opened in Kiev. The founders are waiting for arrival of Cuban musicians and cooks.

As to creative heritage of Ernest Hemingway, we have finally reached consensus with American side: originals of literary works of the great master will stay, where they were created – in Cuba and their copies will be delivered to the USA. Though silly agiotage has been boosted around it for a long time that caused certain difficulties. All this had exclusively political character.

Actually at its time, Bush`s Administration forbade any cultural exchange with Cuba, “enriching” the sad tradition of many of its predecessors. Scientists, sportsmen, art figures suffered from that…

— Those, who know Cubans at least a little bit, keeps admiring your cheerfulness and optimism… Mr. Ambassador, has anything changed in life of the Island of Liberty after its leader of many years Fidel Castro withdrew from ruling the country?

— For some reason, Fidel`s withdrawal from state matters was taken by many people as a signal that something should happen. However, though the news was bad for Cubans, they knew exactly that nothing special would happen on the island. We have our state Constitution, where it is described in detail how Cuba lives and will keep living. After authority was delegated to Raul Castro, the country lives and works in the usual rhythm, multiplies old traditions, gives start to new ones. For example, school Olympiads in physical training are still held regularly. Little Cuba must pay due attention to mass sport if it wants to remain among the world leaders of big sport… Thanks to Internet, any our rural doctor can get a consultation at a specialized medical center. Several thousands of internet-clubs function in Cuba and University of Informatics successfully functions on the territory of the former Soviet radiolocating station in Havana… So-called “Fidel`s thoughts” about important events in Cuba and in the world also help to develop the country – they are systematically published in our main newspaper “Granma”, then they are willingly republished by other editions of the world, including Ukrainian ones.

It is hard to disagree with the national philosophers Carpentier and Ortiz, who spoke about the powerful unity of Cuban nation, which went ashore from different ships that moored to our coast at different historic times. We really gathered from different ships and built a ship of our own − national. The people understand: if it is not solid in its intentions and actions, it will be easily destroyed, deprived of its independence and state sovereignty. Hardened in their eternal struggle for independence, today Cubans are as always consolidated, united, optimistic.

I wish the same unity to Ukrainians, who have always been and remain good friends of Cuba.

Media Center of “Prime Excursion Bureau”.

December 2010.