Tagged: Cuba

According to Proexchangerates, the government of Cuba is a single-party socialist state led by the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). The President of Cuba serves as head of state and is elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term, while the Prime Minister is the head of government and is appointed by the president. The Cuban Parliament (National Assembly) has 605 members who are elected to five-year terms, and it has the power to pass laws, approve budgets, ratify treaties and appoint judges. The judicial branch consists of local courts, appellate courts, a Supreme Court and other specialized courts. The Cuban constitution guarantees basic rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, association, religion and movement although these rights are often restricted in practice due to censorship or political instability. Citizens also have access to free public education up to university level studies along with healthcare services throughout the country although these are inadequate due to lack of resources in rural areas. Poverty levels remain high with over 20% of the population living below the poverty line. Women’s rights are often neglected in Cuba and they face discrimination in many aspects including access to education and employment opportunities as well as legal protection from gender-based violence such as rape or domestic abuse. In addition, minorities such as Afro-Cubans suffer from discrimination when it comes to accessing basic services such as healthcare or education. Cuba’s foreign relations are complex and ever-changing. Historically, Cuba has had strong ties with the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, but since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba’s foreign relations have evolved. The Cuban government has actively sought to develop new ties with countries around the world, particularly in Europe, Asia and Latin America. In recent years, Cuba has developed a close relationship with Venezuela, which has provided economic aid and support to help Cuba overcome its economic crisis. Additionally, Cuba has also opened up diplomatic relations with several countries that had previously been hostile towards it such as the United States and China. Cuba is an active member of regional organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America). Additionally, Cuba is a member of international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Health Organization (WHO) and Group of 77 (G77). Furthermore, Cuba is a signatory to numerous international treaties including those related to human rights, disarmament and non-proliferation. Cuba’s current president Raúl Castro has taken steps toward improving relations between his country and other nations around the world by engaging in dialogue with leaders from Europe, Latin America and elsewhere. In 2009 he met U.S President Barack Obama at a summit in Trinidad & Tobago where they discussed possibilities for improving bilateral relations between their countries. In 2011 he visited Mexico on an official state visit where he met with President Felipe Calderón to discuss trade agreements between their two countries. Most recently he made an official visit to Brazil in 2012 where he was received by President Dilma Rousseff who expressed her desire to strengthen ties between their two nations. See themotorcyclers for Cuba defense and foreign policy.