Mr. Fernando González Llort:

I thank the Deputy for her questions. All Cubans are very proud of the role Cuba has played in the negotiations between FARC and the Colombian Government. Its role has also been recognised by the guerillas and the Colombian Government. It has been acknowledged that when the negotiations were going through a very difficult time, Cuba, among other countries, helped to maintain the process in as smooth a manner as possible. In his public statements the new President of Colombia has given the impression that he will not support the peace process to the same extent as his predecessor. He has stated that although he supports the peace process, he wishes to reform and modify the document on which it is based. However, what someone says when they are a candidate may be different from what they say when they are the president of a nation. We wish for the peace process to be strengthened for the good of Colombia and the wider world.

That is connected to the Deputy's second question and relates to the efforts made by the United States to undermine all progressive governments in the region. Those efforts are evidenced by the shameful manner in which the United States removed Dilma Rousseff from the presidency of Brazil and the imprisonment of Luiz Lula da Silva, the most popular candidate for the presidency. These actions were taken to prevent them from winning the election.

The hand of the United States is evident in the irrational violence in Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan Government is trying to mend differences through dialogue, but the violence is continuing.

The interference of the United States can be seen in the war being waged against Venezuela and its legitimately elected government. The Venezuelan Government that has won 23 elections in 18 years is constantly attacked and undermined internationally. It is part of a strategy to weaken and remove any progressive government in the region and instead establish neoliberal policies which would lead to big benefits for multinationals.