Felipe Pérez Roque

Felipe Ramón Pérez Roque(born March 28 1965) is the foreign minister of the Republic of Cuba. At his appointment in 1999, he was not only the youngest member of the Cuban cabinet but also the only one to be born after the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

Pérez Roque was formerly an electronics engineer and leader of student organisations who has served as Fidel Castro's chief of staff for a decade prior to his ministry. As well as being a prominent member of the Cuban Council of Ministers, Pérez Roque is also a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and serves on the Council of State.

Role as Foreign Minister

Pérez Roque's role as foreign minister has been defined by statements opposing the foreign policies of the United States, in regard to both the status of Cuba and in regard to wider US foreign policy. He has described Cuba as a "country under siege" as a result of the US embargo against Cuba but he has also been seen as politician open to negotiating an end to it . [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cuba/possible-successors.html Contemplating Cuba after Fidel] CBC News ] Pérez Roque has made a series of speeches at the annual United Nations General Assembly gatherings, criticizing the role of the United States and requesting that US troops be withdrawn from Iraq. At the gatherings, he has also petitioned for the security council to include Third World countries, that all nations cooperate in the fight against terrorism, and that it is the responsibility of developed countries to ensure general and complete disarmament including nuclear disarmament. [ [http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/septiembre/lun27/40felipe.html STATEMENT BY FELIPE PÉREZ ROQUE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA AT THE 59TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 24 2004] Granma international ] Pérez Roque has also been responsible for the deepening of trade relations between Cuba and the People's Republic of China, [ [http://english.people.com.cn/english/200009/17/eng20000917_50676.html China, Cuba FMs Hold Talks] People's daily ] and has made a number of high profile trips to the country signing a key military agreement between the two nations. [ [http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y01/mar01/02e6.htm China vows to continue support for Cuba] The Times of India Online (Cubanet) ]

Personal life

He is married to Jaime Cromet's daughter (Crombet is the Vice President of the National Assembly of People’s Power) with two children.

References

dictator

ee also

*Foreign relations of Cuba
*Politics of Cuba

External links

* [http://www.cubaminrex.cu/Ministerio/Curriculum_ministro.htm Official Biography] "Cuban Foreign Ministry"
* [http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/septiembre/lun27/40felipe.html Statement before the 59th Session of the United Nations General Assembly] September 24, 2004 "Granma International"
* [http://www.embacubalebanon.com/felipediscursose.html Archive of speeches made by Roque]