Cuba's foreign minister calls UN ambassador 'liar' in blockade debate

A heated exchange erupted at the United Nations General Assembly as Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla labeled U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz a "liar." The confrontation occurred during an intense debate concerning the long-standing U.S. economic blockade against Cuba.

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This is the United Nations General Assembly, not a 'Green Berets' camp. You are a liar.

Rodríguez requested to speak after Waltz's declaration, directly addressing the ambassador: "This is the United Nations General Assembly, not a 'Green Berets' camp." He then stated, "You are a liar." The Cuban minister later reiterated his request for the assembly's presidency to intervene, asserting that the U.S. representative was speaking "offensively against my country" and urging him to maintain decorum.

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The regime and its representatives do not want you to hear the following: that this month marks the anniversary of when thousands of Cubans took to the streets to demand their freedom.

Ambassador Waltz countered by stating that "the regime and its representatives do not want you to hear the following: that this month marks the anniversary of when thousands of Cubans took to the streets to demand their freedom." He accused the regime of enriching itself for 67 years by abusing its people, stifling private enterprise, and penalizing dissent with a communist economy. Waltz presented photographs of detained artists, including Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, arguing they were imprisoned for writing poetry and songs.

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From 67 years ago, the regime has enriched itself by abusing its people, stifling private enterprise, and penalizing dissent with a communist economy.

The U.S. delegation had previously opposed holding the debate on ending the embargo. Cuba is facing a severe energy crisis, exacerbated by what it calls a U.S. "oil siege." Waltz dismissed this, claiming "blackouts have affected the island for years" and suggesting the regime has enough electricity to print speeches blaming the U.S. for a crisis they created. The General Assembly annually debates the embargo at Cuba's request, typically passing non-binding resolutions calling for its end.

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See their faces when you deliver your speeches, because they are in jail for asking for freedom. They are not violent, they just write poetry and songs, and that's why the regime tries to finish them off by putting them in jail.