CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Deputy Foreign Minister in Geneva: Children, Cuba's Priority.

CUBA, 7 June 2011.- Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Abelardo Moreno affirmed Tuesday that the integral development of children is an absolute priority for his country, and can be seen in internationally acknowledged facts and figures.

In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina, the leader of the Cuban delegation at the 57th session of UN Committee on the Rights of Child said it was a satisfaction to participate in the event.

Despite being under a United States blockade and being a developing country, Cuba shows eloquent results praised by UNICEF, UNESCO and other organizations, Moreno said.

Specifically, the UN committee has repeatedly praised high Cuban rates of education, health, sports, culture and child protection, Moreno added.

He also explained that he did not come to Geneva with any special expectations because Cuba had been implementing the content of the Convention on the Rights of the Child for more than 30 years before it was passed.

"Our policy is to strict observance of the legal obligations we signed, and we know that many countries and important figures applaud the efforts we have made, such as an extraordinary infant mortality rate of 4.5 per 1,000 live births in 2010," he said.

The official said the U.S. blockade against Cuba causes has a severe negative impact on access to medicine and medical equipment, including for children with disabilities.

"However, we keep moving forward to help children in almost 100 countries, such as a treatment program for Chernobyl victims, one of the most beautiful programs of the Revolution," the Cuban diplomat said. (Cubaminrex-PL)

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