Activities of Secretary-General in Cuba, 14-15 September

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, arrived in Havana, Cuba, from New York, early on Thursday afternoon, 14 September.

That afternoon in his hotel, he met with UN staff, after which he held a meeting with members of the UN Country Team.

The Secretary-General then met with various Cuban officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz; the Minister of Economy and Planning, Alejandro Gil Fernández; and the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Elba Rosa Pérez Montoya.

He was then greeted by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez at the Palace of the Revolution.  They had a bilateral meeting.

On Thursday evening, the Secretary-General visited the Santa Clara convent in Old Havana, which is being restored by UNESCO and is being transformed into a youth arts centre.

The next day, the Secretary-General took part in the opening ceremony of the G77+China Summit.

He told leaders present that in today’s troubled world, the role of their group remains as important as ever as their members are the engine of sustainable development.  He also said that the world is failing developing countries and that to change this, we need national action — to ensure good governance, mobilize resources, and prioritize sustainable development.  The Secretary-General also urged the Group to step up, use their power, and fight to champion a system rooted in equality, a system ready to reverse the injustice and neglect of centuries and to deliver for all humanity.  (See Press Release SG/SM/21942.)

After the ceremony, the Secretary-General had a meeting with former President and Army General Raúl Castro Ruz.

Following that meeting, the Secretary-General had an interview with Prensa Latina and after that he held a meeting with the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros.

The Secretary-General left Cuba on Friday and was back in New York that evening.