Cuba condemns campaign to undermine Beijing Olympics
• Statement from the revolutionary government

EVER since the International Olympic Committee agreed in 2001 to make Beijing the host of the 2008 Olympic Games, the government and people of the People’s Republic of China have assumed the event’s organization with an unsurpassed sporting spirit and great responsibility, sparing no resources or efforts. They have accepted many suggestions and adopted decisions aimed at guaranteeing optimal conditions for the visit by participants in the Games. The decision to award the venue to the People’s Republic of China constituted recognition of its unquestionable prestige, the level it has attained in sports, and its work to benefit the international sports movement.

The Cuban government condemns with all vigor the attempts to organize a crusade to cause this noble effort to fail, with hidden political motives. This campaign is also aggression against the international Olympic movement. At the same time, Cuba expresses its recognition of and total support for the efforts of the People’s Republic of China to guarantee the success of the Olympic Games.

A malicious media campaign has been fostered, seconded by actions aimed at undermining international confidence in the Chinese government’s ability to keep its promises. In addition to that, there are the recent events related to separatism in Tibet that led to deaths and incalculable material losses. It is evident that these disturbances have been induced and promoted from outside the country. For Cuba, the role played by the so-called Radio Free Asia has been revealing; it is the main mouthpiece of the current anti-China media campaign, and its sponsors are the same who defend those inciting separatism within China.

The acts of aggression against 19 Chinese embassies and consulates in 16 countries are an extremely serious violation of the spirit and letter of the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations.

The Cuban government expresses its firm opposition to any attempt to meddle in China’s internal affairs, or to attack its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Likewise, it urges international public opinion and the sports community to defend the noble ideas that inspire the Olympic spirit.

Havana, March 22, 2008

Translated by Granma International