CUBA. Republic of Cuba
A state located between the continents of North and South America, situated on the islands of Cuba and Juventud (Pinos), as well as approximately 4,000 small, mostly uninhabited islands belonging to the Greater Antilles group. Area - 110,922 km². Capital - Havana (over 2.3 million), major cities: Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, Holguín, Santa Clara, Guantánamo, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Pinar del Río, Bayamo. Administrative-territorial division - 14 provinces: Pinar del Río, Havana, City of Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, which are divided into municipalities (one of them is the island of Juventud - the center of subordination). Population - 11.23 million (2003); Cubans, about 2/3 - descendants of immigrants from Spain, more than 1/3 - blacks, mulattos, and mestizos. Official language - Spanish. Religion - Catholicism. Currency - Cuban peso = 100 centavos.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with Russia on July 6, 1902, severed with the USSR in April 1952, restored on May 8, 1960).
National holidays: January 1 - Liberation Day (1959), May 1 - International Workers' Day, July 26 - National Rebellion Day (1953), October 10 - the beginning of the struggle for Cuba's independence from Spain (1868), December 25 - Christmas (since 1997).
Cuba is a republic. According to the 1976 constitution (with amendments in 1992), the highest body of state power is the National Assembly of People's Power (elected for 5 years), endowed with legislative powers. From among its deputies, it elects the State Council, which represents the assembly between sessions, and also approves the members of the Council of Ministers - the highest executive and administrative body. The head of state is the Chairman of the State Council and the Council of Ministers Fidel Castro Ruz (since 1976). The First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Revolutionary Armed Forces - Army General Raúl Castro Ruz (brother of F. Castro). The current composition of the National Assembly of People's Power was elected in January 2003.
On October 8-10, 1997, the V Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) took place in Havana. The unchanging course of the current leadership of the country was confirmed - to ensure the "survival of the revolution" and continue building "socialism with Cuban specificity." The tasks of strengthening the unity of the people, the party, and the state while maintaining the "determining role of the CPC," combating "ideological fluctuations," and educating the people in the spirit of "political firmness, loyalty to the revolution and socialism" were put to the forefront. The final documents of the congress reflect the transitional processes experienced by Cuba. Along with the gradual introduction of stimulating market elements into the country's economy, the established political system of society is preserved, relying largely on party structures and the personal authority of F. Castro.
In January 2003, elections were held for the National Assembly and provincial governing bodies, in which about 98% of the population participated, which was regarded by the current leadership of the country as another vote of confidence. Some restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, and civil rights remain. A course is being pursued to rejuvenate the personnel with the promotion of representatives of the reformist wing to key positions.
Political and mass organizations: The Communist Party of Cuba - established in 1961 (about 840,000 members). The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC is F. Castro Ruz, the Second Secretary is R. Castro Ruz. The Workers' Central Union of Cuba (NTK) - established in 1939, unites a number of sectoral trade unions (3.8 million). Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) - founded in 1960 "for the purpose of fighting internal counter-revolution" (over 8 million, i.e., 71% of the population of the country over 14 years old). The Federation of Cuban Women - founded in 1960 (about 3.6 million). The Union of Young Communists - founded in 1962 (about 456,000).
X. Columbus reached the island of Cuba in 1492, and it was finally colonized in 1511 by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez. During the conquest, the Spaniards exterminated the indigenous Indian population. With the establishment of plantation agriculture (sugar cane) in Cuba, the demand for labor increased sharply. In this regard, the Spanish authorities began importing black slaves from Africa to the island starting in the 16th century. The liberation movement that began in the first half of the 19th century culminated in the 10-Year War of 1868-78 against Spanish rule, which for a number of reasons did not achieve its goal. An important consequence of this struggle for independence was the abolition of slavery in 1886. In 1895, a new nationwide uprising against Spanish colonial rule broke out in Cuba, led by José Martí, Antonio Maceo, and Máximo Gómez. When the United States entered the war with Spain in 1898, they sought to use the Cuban people's liberation struggle for their own interests. According to the Paris Peace Treaty of 1898, Cuba was formally proclaimed independent; however, in fact, it was occupied by the United States from 1898 to 1902. According to the treaty, in 1903, the United States was granted an indefinite lease on the Guantanamo naval base.
As a result of a coup d'état in March 1952, F. Batista came to power in the country. F. Castro, after the opposition parties refused to take coordinated action against the dictatorial regime, organized an attack on the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba on July 26, 1953, which ended in failure. He and his associates were arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In 1955, under pressure from the public, the government declared an amnesty for prisoners. F. Castro went to the United States and then to Mexico, where he developed a plan for armed struggle against the dictatorship. On December 2, 1956, a group led by F. Castro landed on Cuba from the yacht "Granma." From that time on, the country began a guerrilla struggle against Batista's regime, culminating in victory on January 1, 1959.
The Soviet Union recognized the revolutionary government of Cuba on January 10, 1959.
In April 1961, after the failure of the opposition's attempt to land troops in Cuba to carry out a coup, F. Castro announced the socialist nature of the Cuban revolution.
The country has great potential for growing sugar cane, tobacco, rice, citrus fruits, coffee, and many other tropical crops, as well as developing livestock. Cuba has significant deposits of nickel (2nd in the world in reserves and 3rd in production), cobalt, manganese and iron ores, copper, chromium, asbestos, rock salt, phosphorites, as well as raw materials for the production of building materials. Promising oil and gas fields have been discovered on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. Since the mid-1993, the Cuban government has been consistently working on a gradual transition of the country's economy to market principles. In 1999-2000, a modern three-tier banking system was created, typical for countries with a market economy (central bank, commercial and investment banks, as well as financial and investment companies and funds, including those with foreign capital). Foreign banks operate in Cuba. The issuance of securities in 2000 is evidence of the emergence of a secondary capital market. Tax and budget reforms are ongoing, increasing the independence of individual economic entities. Within the framework of the policy of adaptation to new economic conditions, a key role is assigned to improving enterprise management. In 1998, a corresponding law was adopted, creating the necessary basis for such transformations. As a result, the management schemes of Cuban enterprises operating under improvement have approached international standards in both accounting practices and personnel training. At the same time, the authorities strive to maintain the achievements in the social sphere (education, healthcare).
GDP growth in 2003 was 2.6%, in 2004 - 3%. GDP per capita, taking into account real purchasing power, is $2,900.
In the economic development of the island, a significant imbalance was noted in the first and second halves of 2004, with national economic growth rates of 4.5% and 1.5%, respectively. The decline in the second half of the year was caused by the peak of the crisis in the energy sector (a serious accident at the largest thermal power plant "Antonio Guiteras"). At the same time, it coincided with the introduction of new measures by the American administration to tighten the embargo against the island, as well as two strong hurricanes (August and September). A decline was recorded in the fuel and energy complex (FEC). Oil production decreased. However, at the same time, the extraction of associated gas increased. Hydrocarbon raw materials were produced at 3.9 million tons in oil equivalent (4.3 million tons in 2003), which is below the initially planned level. Electricity production from national fuel amounted to 81.7%. Nickel production increased by 4%. 77,000 tons of nickel-cobalt concentrate were obtained (74,000 tons in 2003). The sugar industry recorded a 14% increase.
Sugar production amounted to 2.5 million tons, which is 300,000 tons more than in 2003.
In 2004, Cuba was visited by more than 2 million foreign tourists (8% more than in 2003). Revenues from this sector exceeded $2 billion (15% more than in 2003).
The country continues to operate a rationing-card system. Problems of unemployment remain acute (according to the results of 2002, the official unemployment rate was 3%, hidden - 10% of the economically active population), supply of the population with essential goods, and housing shortages.
In connection with the introduction of new restrictive measures by the US government in mid-2004 to tighten the existing embargo regime against the island, the Cubans undertook a series of "exceptional measures" to protect their economic sovereignty: increasing prices for goods sold for currency on the island, raising the cost of fuel, lubricants, and others. In addition, it was decided to stop using the US dollar, which had been in circulation since 1993, as a means of cash payment on the island starting in November 2004. The dollar was replaced with the convertible peso - a currency introduced back in 1995. A 10% tax was established for the exchange of cash dollars at exchange points.
Since December 2004, all funds received and generated on the island in currency and convertible pesos from foreign economic, investment, tourism, and other activities are concentrated in a special account at the Central Bank of Cuba.
One of the main instruments of economic policy is the stimulation of controlled inflows of investments and technologies from abroad, which has ensured stable growth in the number of enterprises in various sectors of the country's economy based on full or partial participation of capital from Western Europe, Latin America, Canada, and China. The volume of declared foreign investments at the end of 2004 amounted to about $10 billion, while the phenomenon of "capital flight" is completely absent. In 2005, it is planned to invest up to $6 billion in the Cuban economy in foreign investments for specific projects in areas such as tourism, telecommunications, cigar business, oil, and nickel production. In 2003, a trend towards a reduction in the number of operating joint ventures with foreign capital from 400 to 342 in 32 sectors of the economy was noted, along with a simultaneous surge in the number of contracts for production cooperation and management of production facilities - over 300. In 2004, there were 363.
The most active investors are Spain, Canada, Italy, and China.
A serious problem remains Cuba's external debt ($12.52 billion; excluding obligations to the former USSR). The main part falls on Japan, Spain, France, Argentina, Great Britain, and Italy.
The country's external trade and economic ties have significantly intensified. The volume of foreign trade in 2004 amounted to $6.77 billion (exports - $2.24 billion, imports - $4.53 billion). The negative balance amounted to $2.22 billion. About 45% of foreign trade turnover comes from European countries, 39% from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, and 16% from Asia-Pacific countries. Fundamental changes are occurring in Cuba's external relations. Priorities have shifted towards relations with Canada, EU countries, China, and Venezuela; Cuba is also showing interest in joining Latin American integration processes. The main strategic goal of Cuba's foreign policy remains overcoming the economic embargo from the United States and reintegrating into the world economy through the development of international cooperation "in all directions."
Cuba is a member of the UN (since 1945), the LAES (since 1975), the LAI (since 1998), the DN (since 1961), is an observer in CARICOM, and participates in the Ibero-American forum.
Currently, Russian-Cuban relations are de-ideologized and built on a mutually beneficial basis, taking into account the current realities in our countries and the accumulated experience of decades of multifaceted cooperation.
The contractual and legal framework has been significantly updated. In May 1996, a Declaration on the Principles of Relations between the Russian Federation and Cuba was signed, which established their new character. An important event in Russian-Cuban relations was the official visit to Havana by the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin (December 14-17, 2000). The Russian-Cuban political dialogue is actively developing. Regular meetings of foreign ministers are held during UN General Assembly sessions. Since 1996, there have been 8 visits by foreign ministers. In March 2003, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, F. Pérez, visited Russia on an official visit. From September 27-29, 2004, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, S. V. Lavrov, made an official visit to Cuba. Inter-parliamentary contacts have developed dynamically. Cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges are gradually reviving.
In the trade and economic sphere, Cuba and Russia have generally managed to overcome significant difficulties related to the transition to internationally accepted trading conditions. In 2003, bilateral trade turnover decreased to $232.9 million (in 2002 - $540 million), with Russian exports amounting to only $38 million. In 2004, this figure was $300 million (Russian exports - $60 million). As a result, Cuba moved to 4th-5th place among Russia's trading partners in Latin America. Russian exports to Cuba are diverse and include a wide range of machine and technical products (over 50% in 2004). Cuba remains an important supplier of raw sugar to the Russian market. However, the share of this product in total Russian imports is decreasing (from 38% in 2002 to 18% in 2004).
The country has several universities and research centers, the oldest and largest of which is the University of Havana.
Main newspapers: "Granma" (organ of the Central Committee of the CPC, 500,000 copies), "Juventud Rebelde" (organ of the Union of Young Communists, 250,000), "Trabajadores" (organ of the CTC, 270,000). Major news agencies: Prensa Latina, National Information Agency (AIN). Television broadcasting is carried out on 4 national channels. The radio network has 63 radio stations.