The government of the Republic of Cuba welcomes with satisfaction the will expressed by the countries comprising the Río Group that Cuba should join the grouping. It joins the group in the exercise of the unitary vocation of José Martí when, speaking of Our America, he affirmed: "it is the hour of reckoning, and of a united march, and we have to go forward in tight formation, like silver in the roots of the Andes.

The times of attempts to isolate Cuba against the will of the Latin America and Caribbean peoples were left behind long ago. Today our continent is breathing a new atmosphere in defense of the legitimate interests of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, and a new will of integration to convert it, from the Rio Grande to Patagonia, into the Great Homeland to which our leaders aspired.

Today we all share adherence to international law and the UN Charter. Together, we condemn interference in the internal affairs of states and reject, in a united form, aggression, threats, the use of force, and using unilateral coercive measures directed at preventing states from exercising their right to elect their own political, economic and social systems.

Thus, the extension of the Río Group to make it more representative of the region is a positive step on the road to full incorporation into this mechanism of the Caribbean nations, with which Cuba is disposed to cooperate.

Our country expresses its gratitude to all the nations that have promoted its entry into the grouping.

Today, more than ever, the words expressed by our Commander in Chief on November 16, 1999, have more relevance than ever: "The difficult and complex world that is coming over us, in which the integrity and survival of our countries are at stake, can only be borne on the solidly united shoulders of all our peoples."

Havana, November 13, 2008