Raúl Roa García
Encyclopedia
Raúl Roa García
was a Cuban
intellectual
, politician
and diplomat
. He served as Foreign Minister of Cuba
from 1959 to 1976. He was a lawyer and was also a university professor in the 1940s and 1950s. He was also Director of Culture of the Ministry of Education from 1949 to 1951.
Born in Havana
, he was 18 he wrote his first article Ensayo sobre José Martí ("Essay on Jose Marti
"). In 1926, while studying law he was jailed for protesting the U.S. intervention in Nicaragua.
In 1927, he met Rubén Martínez Villena
who instructed him more on social problems. Additionally, he participated with other anti-imperialist youths and revolutionaries at Universidad Popular José Martí and the Liga Antimperialista. He was also writing for the magazine Revista Avance and the weekly paper Otro.
In the 1930s, he wrote for Directorio Estudiantil Revolucionario where he crystallized his Marxist-Leninist beliefs.
Roa entered the Ala Izquierda Estudiantil in 1931. In this organization, much more radical, he positions himself more clearly on the necessity of the fight for the sovereignty of Cuba and against imperialism. His writings at this time reflect his firm idea in an armed rebellion. He is arrested and sent to prison.
He left prison in 1933 and wrote Manifiesto al pueblo de Cuba. He participated in the general strike of 1933 that led to the ouster of Gerardo Machado
. In March 1935, he was exiled to the United States. There he united with people such as Pablo de la Torrente Brau and founded the organization, Organización Revolucionaria Cubana Antiimperialista (ORCA).
He kept good relations with other Latin American countries and also signed an anti-hijacking agreement with the United States in 1973.
He died in Havana
on July 6, 1982.
He was married to Dr. Ada Kouri Barreto
. Their son, Raúl Roa Kouri, is also a diplomat and has served as Cuba's ambassador to the Holy See
and Cuba's representative to the United Nations
. His grandfather was Lieutenant Coronel Ramón Roa Gari of the Cuban Liberation Army.
was a Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He served as Foreign Minister of Cuba
Foreign relations of Cuba
Cuba's once-ambitious foreign policy has been down sized as a result of economic hardship after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Without massive Soviet subsidies and its primary trading partner Cuba was comparatively isolated in the 1990s, but has since entered bilateral co-operation with several...
from 1959 to 1976. He was a lawyer and was also a university professor in the 1940s and 1950s. He was also Director of Culture of the Ministry of Education from 1949 to 1951.
Born in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, he was 18 he wrote his first article Ensayo sobre José Martí ("Essay on Jose Marti
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
"). In 1926, while studying law he was jailed for protesting the U.S. intervention in Nicaragua.
In 1927, he met Rubén Martínez Villena
Rubén Martínez Villena
Rubén Martínez Villena was a Cuban writer and revolutionary leader, born on December 20, 1899 in Alquízar, in the La Habana province.-Biography:...
who instructed him more on social problems. Additionally, he participated with other anti-imperialist youths and revolutionaries at Universidad Popular José Martí and the Liga Antimperialista. He was also writing for the magazine Revista Avance and the weekly paper Otro.
In the 1930s, he wrote for Directorio Estudiantil Revolucionario where he crystallized his Marxist-Leninist beliefs.
Roa entered the Ala Izquierda Estudiantil in 1931. In this organization, much more radical, he positions himself more clearly on the necessity of the fight for the sovereignty of Cuba and against imperialism. His writings at this time reflect his firm idea in an armed rebellion. He is arrested and sent to prison.
He left prison in 1933 and wrote Manifiesto al pueblo de Cuba. He participated in the general strike of 1933 that led to the ouster of Gerardo Machado
Gerardo Machado
Gerardo Machado y Morales was President of Cuba and a general of the Cuban War of Independence...
. In March 1935, he was exiled to the United States. There he united with people such as Pablo de la Torrente Brau and founded the organization, Organización Revolucionaria Cubana Antiimperialista (ORCA).
He kept good relations with other Latin American countries and also signed an anti-hijacking agreement with the United States in 1973.
He died in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
on July 6, 1982.
He was married to Dr. Ada Kouri Barreto
Ada Kouri Barreto
Dr. Ada Kouri Barreto was an eminent cardiologist. She was the wife of the Foreign Minister of Cuba, Raúl Roa García, and mother to the Cuban diplomat, Raúl Roa Kouri....
. Their son, Raúl Roa Kouri, is also a diplomat and has served as Cuba's ambassador to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and Cuba's representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. His grandfather was Lieutenant Coronel Ramón Roa Gari of the Cuban Liberation Army.