H.E. M. Soraya Alvarez Ambassador of Cuba, during her welcome remarks, we can see besides her the Ambassador of Poland, H.E. Mr. Marcin Czepelak and Mr. Anton Lutter.
By Anton Lutter.
The ambassador of Cuba H.E. Soraya Alvarez, hosted a reception – 19thnov – at het residence welcoming the Deputy First Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), Dr. Fernando González Bermúdez.
Born in 1946 he studied medicine at the University of Havana and obtaining a PhD in 1975, specializing in embryology. Since July 2004 he was appointed in the above office. Earlier he has held the high position in the field of science: deputy director of the Agricultural Health National Center (1976-1978), director of the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba (1979-1983), director general and founder of the National Center for the Production of Laboratory (CENPALAB) (1982-2004) which belong to the sphere of Biotechnology.
In the last few years, he has focused his work on the environment. He has led the Macroproject for the scientific investigation and technological innovation on the dangers and vulnerabilities of the coastal line in the Program of Management of Climatic Change approved by the Council of Ministers.
He has taken part in many international events either as head of delegation or as a member to the Conference of the States Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Next to that Dr. González Bermúdez, was a member of the National Assembly of People’s Power (legislative parliament of Cuba) between 1998 and 2013.
Dr. Gonzales Bermudez participated in the general debate of the Fourth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention taking place from November 22 to November 30, 2018 at The Hague, which is the seat of the OPCW.
In his statement, the Deputy First Minister reiterated the position of principle of Cuba in favor of general and total disarmament under the strict and effective monitoring of the international community, prohibition and elimination of all mass destruction weapons included.
Dr. Fernando González Bermúdez said that the destruction of chemical weapons in all categories has remained one of the main objectives of the Organization and that it should be completed by the Possessor State as soon as possible and in accordance with the Verification Annex.
He also spoke of the promotion of the economic and technological development of the States Parties, particularly of those least developed and called to implement the Article XI of the Convention in a full, effective and non-discriminatory manner. In this point of the intervention, he denounced the unilateral policy of the blockade imposed by the Government of the United States against Cuba, noticing it being a violation of what is established in the abovementioned article of the Convention.
Dr. González Bermúdezalso underlined two national documents circulated by Cuba in the framework of the Conference: one about the damages caused by the blockade to the chemical Industry in Cuba during the last five years and another one about the main activities developed by our country in the implementation of the Convention.
Being in The Netherlands the Cuban Deputy First Minister took the opportunity in visiting the bilateral working program which included meetings and exchanging views with his Dutch counterparts for the promotion of the main elements of Tarea Vida (Task Life).
