Cuba's Raul Castro Decries Continuing 'Colonialism' in Falklands (Malvinas) and Puerto Rico

In Cuba on Tuesday, Raul Castro continued to align itself with Argentina in the subject of the Malvinas (Falkland) islands as well as calling for the inclusion of Puerto Rico as a member country of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) coalition. Castro cites both as recurring examples of colonialism in the Western hemisphere.

"We reiterate our deepest solidarity with the Republic of Argentina in its claim for the Malvinas, South Georgian and South Sandwich islands and surrounding seas," Castro said according to Prensa Latina.

Long standing wounds persist in the South American nation from the loss of the Malvinas to the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands war of 1982. In 2012 on the 30-year anniversary of the conflict the Argentine government distributed posters around the city reminding the population of their claim to the islands as well as witnessing several demonstrations in the capital city of Buenos Aires.

"It is an injustice that in the 21st century there are still colonial enclaves like we have here, a few kilometers away," Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said in a speech marking the 30-year milestone noted by CNN. "We want them to respect the law and the constitution of our country. This is not a story that started 30 years ago. It is going to be 180 years of usurpation,"

The United Kingdom continues to decline any negotiations on the islands that they have administered since 1833.

"Our community will be incomplete as long as Puerto Rico is not a member country, a nation that is genuinely Latin American and Caribbean and that suffers a colonial condition," Castro added as well.

Puerto Rico is still a territory of the United States and in a landmark vote in 2012 more than 61 percent of the population voted in a referendum for statehood within the United States and to end the current commonwealth status.

"We reiterate our deepest solidarity with the Republic of Argentina in its claim for the Malvinas, South Georgian and South Sandwich islands and surrounding seas," Castro said according to Prensa Latina.

Long standing wounds persist in the South American nation from the loss of the Malvinas to the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands war of 1982. In 2012 on the 30-year anniversary of the conflict the Argentine government distributed posters around the city reminding the population of their claim to the islands as well as witnessing several demonstrations in the capital city of Buenos Aires.

"It is an injustice that in the 21st century there are still colonial enclaves like we have here, a few kilometers away," Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said in a speech marking the 30-year milestone noted by CNN. "We want them to respect the law and the constitution of our country. This is not a story that started 30 years ago. It is going to be 180 years of usurpation,"

The United Kingdom continues to decline any negotiations on the islands that they have administered since 1833.

"Our community will be incomplete as long as Puerto Rico is not a member country, a nation that is genuinely Latin American and Caribbean and that suffers a colonial condition," Castro added as well.

Puerto Rico is still a territory of the United States and in a landmark vote in 2012 more than 61 percent of the population voted in a referendum for statehood within the United States and to end the current commonwealth status.