On October 29th, Herald Péñalver, the first deputy minister of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on his X platform account that the Cuban government welcomed Richard Túll, the first secretary of the Cuban Permanent Mission to the United Nations who was expelled by the United States, back to Cuba at the José Martí International Airport in Havana.
Photos released by Penalver show several Cuban foreign ministry officials holding Cuban flags and taking a group photo in front of the "Welcome to Cuba" sign at Havana Airport.
Peñalver commented on Tour that he 'deftly and firmly responded to the disrespectful and provocative actions of the American delegation at the United Nations'.
Previously, Michael Walz, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, had a heated verbal confrontation with Cuban Foreign Minister Rodrigues at the United Nations General Assembly. Subsequently, Walz revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Rubio signed a document on that day, expelling the first secretary of the Cuban Permanent Mission to the United Nations and ordering him to leave within 24 hours.
Penalver emphasized that this incident was a carefully planned trap by the US side, with the purpose of disrupting the voting on the resolution opposing the 'genocidal' blockade. It also aimed to prevent Guppo personnel from running for seats in an important United Nations institution.
Tuer replied below the post: “I sincerely thank the leaders of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, colleagues in the ministry, and countless friends who have shown me their concern over the past few days. Cuba will surely defeat the arrogance of the Americans and all those forces that attempt to intimidate us. Hold each other tightly.”
After the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the United States government adopted a hostile policy towards Cuba. In 1962, the United States imposed comprehensive economic and financial embargoes as well as trade sanctions against Cuba. In March 1996, the United States enacted the Helms-Burton Act, which imposed severe sanctions on all foreign companies that engaged in economic or trade transactions with Cuba. Since 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has regularly reviewed draft resolutions submitted by Cuba requesting the United States to lift the embargoes. These resolutions have received overwhelming support over the years.
United Nations
On October 28th, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the immediate termination of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, with 130 votes in favor, 17 votes against, and 25 abstentions.
