The following is the official Cuban declaration against U.S. led NATO activities in Libya, loosely translated from Spanish:
“The Foreign Ministry has withdrawn its diplomatic staff in Libya, where foreign intervention and military aggression of NATO have exacerbated the conflict and the Libyan people have impeded progress towards a negotiated and peaceful solution, in the exercise of self-determination.
The Republic of Cuba does not recognize the National Transitional Council or any provisional authority and only give recognition to a government that is formed in that country, legitimately and without foreign intervention, by free, sovereign and single will of the brotherly people Libyan.
Ambassador Victor Ramirez Peña and the first secretary Armando Pérez Suárez, accredited in Tripoli have maintained a good character, strictly attached to their diplomatic status, have taken risks and accompanied by the Libyan people in this tragic situation. Have witnessed the NATO bombing civilian targets and killed innocent people.
With the gross pretense of protecting civilians, NATO has killed thousands of them, has ignored the constructive initiatives of the African Union and other countries and even the questionable decisions that violated the Security Council imposed, particularly attacks on civilian targets, funding and supply of arms to a party and the deployment of operational staff and diplomats on the ground.
The United Nations has ignored the clamor of the international public opinion in defense of peace, and have been complicit in a war of conquest. The facts confirm earlier warnings from the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and timely reports of Cuba at the UN. Now we know better what it has called “responsibility to protect” in the hands of the powerful.
Cuba claims that nothing can justify killing innocent people.
The Foreign Ministry demands the immediate cessation of NATO bombing to continue to claim lives and reiterates the urgent need to allow the Libyan people find a peaceful negotiated solution, without foreign intervention, in the exercise of their inalienable right to independence and self-determination, sovereignty over their natural resources and territorial integrity of that sister nation.
Cuba claims that the conduct of NATO aims to create similar conditions for an intervention in Syria and demanding an end to foreign interference in the Arab country. Call the international community to prevent a new war, urges UN to fulfill its duty to safeguard peace and supports the Syrian people’s right to full independence and self determination.
Havana, September 3, 2011″