CUBAN INSTITUTE FOR FRIENDSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE (ICAP Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos).
Presenters: Lerma Martinez (Lerma is 33, studied at Pedagogical Institute in Havana. Havana WARACOA area. Further education in protocol and international relations) and Esperanza Luz Ver, Director of N. American division for ICAP.
History of ICAP: ICAP is an NGO founded in 1960 soon after the Cuban Revolution. It has three divisions: Latin America, North America and Europe/Asia. It has normal relations with all countries except US. ICAP is housed in lovely old mansion previously occupied by a sugar baron and prior to that a tobacco baron. The purpose of ICAP is to reach out to the international community and form ties of friendship between Cuba and citizens of other countries who are either sympathetic to, or open minded about, Cuba’s post-revolutionary ambitions. They undertake many activities, exhibits, cultural exchanges, etc. Usually those activities integrate Cuban culture with legal, concerns, music, arts, exhibits. They work with groups and with Travel Agencies (Marazul) to set up volunteer projects especially in medical field. Many medical people come and bring medicines needed in Cuba.
ICAP has an office in each province. It facilitates volunteer groups that come to Cuba for relief and charity work. Example: hurricane relief for Sandy. Also medical aid and materials. This helps with getting around the US economic embargo for certain equipment. MEDICC and DISARM are examples of groups ICAP has worked with.
There were many handouts of the activities ICAP is engaged with around the world. ICAP has relationships with 50 entities in the US. ICAP also lobbies the US government on social, legal and political matters. Current topic of lobbying is the Cuban 5. ICAP also organizes solidarity activities in Cuba and abroad. They work with a number of major groups such as the Pastors for Peace and Venceremos Brigades who come to do volunteer work in Cuba. ICAP is currently working on a major event to take place in October around the issue of Cuban 5. The first priority for ICAP is the case of the Cuban 5. Video from Danny Glover re Cuban 5: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZRKUZX40U. See also: www.thecuban5.org.
(Our members suggested we contact Jan Black about having some documentaries included in the Monterey Film Festival).
ICAP is also a social organization that receives some of its budget from the Cuban government. However,they stated they were primarily self sustaining. They handle the general visas for groups coming from around the workd,. ICAP also has a travel agency that is a source of income. ICAP brought 3000 people from US into Cuba last year. In some months, it brought in as many as 20 groups per month. For a tourist perspective, 1 million Canadians come each year. It works closely with travel agencies to bring foreigners to Cuba.
II. Ministry of Foreign Relations, North American Division. Presenters: Inez Flores, Official from North American Division. Three other women were present, Julia, Patricia new members, and Greta(recent graduate).
In this ministry 40% are women. They have relations with 185 countries, 120 embassies. Are very active in Foreign Affairs, and support the Principles of the United Nations Charter. Indicated that they supported the sovereignty of nations and respecting that sovereignty by staying out of them. They abide by the UN guidelines of the the UN Assembly. Foreign Affairs central to Cuba as a small island nation. Currently maintain relations with many countries and collaborate with them especially sending doctors to African nations. There are current 45,000 professional medical staff helping in other countries. Offered to send doctors during Katrina but were refused by the US. There are also many individuals (from other countries) studying to be doctors in Cuba as well.
They expressed concern that the media wars distort relations and perceptions about what Cuba is. They would prefer to have better relationships with the US. Feel that little has changed in the US stance toward Cuba in fifty years. They had hoped that it would be better after Bush, especially the economic blockade that it has caused so much damage. Cubans see the Embargo as a unilateral system of sanctions which has been unjust and lasted for 50 years. Relationships hang on this embargo. The US has caused 143 million in fines to prevent banks from transactions with Cuba. Obama responds to the US Cuba Lobby however tensions have been reduced some. Impact of other US policies toward Cuba that are harmful:
• Blacklisted as a sponsor of terrorism (which rather the US does by funding millions to undermine the Cuban government. US sponsors propaganda against Cuba. US spending millions each year. Cubans want to be removed from the state sponsored terrorism list. US funds mercenary groups to bring down the Cuban government. The person that blew up the Cuban Olympic team plane is walking free.
• No bilateral relations- The Cuban 5 in US Prisons who came to US to spy on right wing Cubans who were setting bombs and trying to invade and bring down the Cuban government. Many Cubans have been killed. (That day, group ate in the restaurant Fabio owned by the father of an Italian youth who was a victim of one of these US sponsored bombings. The father gave the Fabio Restaurant to the to the state.)
• Differential treatment of Cuban illegals who arrive on American shores. They are not deported or treated as illegal but rather given financial support and well received unlike Mexican, Haitians.
• The return of Guantanamo which is sovereign Cuban territory now occupied by the US
• The blocking of communications from Cuba to US however keep the funding of Radio Marti with anti-Cuban propaganda.
• US refuses to treat Cuba with respect as a sovereign nation. Cuba wants to negotiate but US fails to treat with equality as a nation. Cuba is willing to negotiate and collaborate on drug activity, terrorism (here and there).
• Fair news reporting in the US on Cuba and not just the anti-Cuba based propaganda from Miami.
• End of the economic blockade. In 2013, 883 countries voted against the US blockade. Only two countries US and Israel are for it.
• Stop the US Congressional funding to destabilize Cuban Government. Money given to USAID authorize subversive activities in Cuba. From 1992 to 2012 more than 225 million dollars have been approved by the US Congress. 1984 to 2012 695 million, from 2012 to 2013 110 million.
• Cuba wants to open trade relations and investment between two countries but Cuba has to control and make the decisions of what it wants. Cuba has moved forward trading with many countries such as China, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Latin America. Their goal is to change the economy and improve the country while keeping the gains in health and education the revolution brought.
History of ICAP: ICAP is an NGO founded in 1960 soon after the Cuban Revolution. It has three divisions: Latin America, North America and Europe/Asia. It has normal relations with all countries except US. ICAP is housed in lovely old mansion previously occupied by a sugar baron and prior to that a tobacco baron. The purpose of ICAP is to reach out to the international community and form ties of friendship between Cuba and citizens of other countries who are either sympathetic to, or open minded about, Cuba’s post-revolutionary ambitions. They undertake many activities, exhibits, cultural exchanges, etc. Usually those activities integrate Cuban culture with legal, concerns, music, arts, exhibits. They work with groups and with Travel Agencies (Marazul) to set up volunteer projects especially in medical field. Many medical people come and bring medicines needed in Cuba.
ICAP has an office in each province. It facilitates volunteer groups that come to Cuba for relief and charity work. Example: hurricane relief for Sandy. Also medical aid and materials. This helps with getting around the US economic embargo for certain equipment. MEDICC and DISARM are examples of groups ICAP has worked with.
There were many handouts of the activities ICAP is engaged with around the world. ICAP has relationships with 50 entities in the US. ICAP also lobbies the US government on social, legal and political matters. Current topic of lobbying is the Cuban 5. ICAP also organizes solidarity activities in Cuba and abroad. They work with a number of major groups such as the Pastors for Peace and Venceremos Brigades who come to do volunteer work in Cuba. ICAP is currently working on a major event to take place in October around the issue of Cuban 5. The first priority for ICAP is the case of the Cuban 5. Video from Danny Glover re Cuban 5: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZRKUZX40U. See also: www.thecuban5.org.
(Our members suggested we contact Jan Black about having some documentaries included in the Monterey Film Festival).
ICAP is also a social organization that receives some of its budget from the Cuban government. However,they stated they were primarily self sustaining. They handle the general visas for groups coming from around the workd,. ICAP also has a travel agency that is a source of income. ICAP brought 3000 people from US into Cuba last year. In some months, it brought in as many as 20 groups per month. For a tourist perspective, 1 million Canadians come each year. It works closely with travel agencies to bring foreigners to Cuba.
II. Ministry of Foreign Relations, North American Division. Presenters: Inez Flores, Official from North American Division. Three other women were present, Julia, Patricia new members, and Greta(recent graduate).
In this ministry 40% are women. They have relations with 185 countries, 120 embassies. Are very active in Foreign Affairs, and support the Principles of the United Nations Charter. Indicated that they supported the sovereignty of nations and respecting that sovereignty by staying out of them. They abide by the UN guidelines of the the UN Assembly. Foreign Affairs central to Cuba as a small island nation. Currently maintain relations with many countries and collaborate with them especially sending doctors to African nations. There are current 45,000 professional medical staff helping in other countries. Offered to send doctors during Katrina but were refused by the US. There are also many individuals (from other countries) studying to be doctors in Cuba as well.
They expressed concern that the media wars distort relations and perceptions about what Cuba is. They would prefer to have better relationships with the US. Feel that little has changed in the US stance toward Cuba in fifty years. They had hoped that it would be better after Bush, especially the economic blockade that it has caused so much damage. Cubans see the Embargo as a unilateral system of sanctions which has been unjust and lasted for 50 years. Relationships hang on this embargo. The US has caused 143 million in fines to prevent banks from transactions with Cuba. Obama responds to the US Cuba Lobby however tensions have been reduced some. Impact of other US policies toward Cuba that are harmful:
• Blacklisted as a sponsor of terrorism (which rather the US does by funding millions to undermine the Cuban government. US sponsors propaganda against Cuba. US spending millions each year. Cubans want to be removed from the state sponsored terrorism list. US funds mercenary groups to bring down the Cuban government. The person that blew up the Cuban Olympic team plane is walking free.
• No bilateral relations- The Cuban 5 in US Prisons who came to US to spy on right wing Cubans who were setting bombs and trying to invade and bring down the Cuban government. Many Cubans have been killed. (That day, group ate in the restaurant Fabio owned by the father of an Italian youth who was a victim of one of these US sponsored bombings. The father gave the Fabio Restaurant to the to the state.)
• Differential treatment of Cuban illegals who arrive on American shores. They are not deported or treated as illegal but rather given financial support and well received unlike Mexican, Haitians.
• The return of Guantanamo which is sovereign Cuban territory now occupied by the US
• The blocking of communications from Cuba to US however keep the funding of Radio Marti with anti-Cuban propaganda.
• US refuses to treat Cuba with respect as a sovereign nation. Cuba wants to negotiate but US fails to treat with equality as a nation. Cuba is willing to negotiate and collaborate on drug activity, terrorism (here and there).
• Fair news reporting in the US on Cuba and not just the anti-Cuba based propaganda from Miami.
• End of the economic blockade. In 2013, 883 countries voted against the US blockade. Only two countries US and Israel are for it.
• Stop the US Congressional funding to destabilize Cuban Government. Money given to USAID authorize subversive activities in Cuba. From 1992 to 2012 more than 225 million dollars have been approved by the US Congress. 1984 to 2012 695 million, from 2012 to 2013 110 million.
• Cuba wants to open trade relations and investment between two countries but Cuba has to control and make the decisions of what it wants. Cuba has moved forward trading with many countries such as China, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Latin America. Their goal is to change the economy and improve the country while keeping the gains in health and education the revolution brought.
