Laura Ivet Pujol Torres, Embassy of Cuba

Article published in the infoletter July 2025.

Representing Cuba — a country whose diplomacy is both active and austere — means taking on multiple roles in a single day and engaging with a wide and diverse range of issues. Nevertheless, the work has been rewarding, especially given the strong and respectful ties our two countries share in political, economic, cultural, and cooperative matters.

I am particularly enthusiastic about a project aimed at improving interdisciplinary care for children with autism. The initial phase was so successful that the initiative is now being expanded to several Cuban provinces.

For over 30 years, a group of Swiss doctors, organised under the NGO MediCubaSuiza, has been working hand in hand with the Cuban Ministry of Health to continuously strengthen our public healthcare system. This long-standing collaboration has led to a deeply enriching and mutually beneficial partnership.

I arrived in Bern in the middle of winter, so coming from a tropical country, I was taken aback by the freezing cold — and by the thousand-and-one ways the locals have found to keep it at bay. And by that, I don’t just mean Glühwein.

I love my life in Cuba, so the list of things I miss is quite long. First and foremost, I miss my daughter, who stayed in Havana to finish her university degree. I also miss the rest of my family and friends. In addition, I come from an island, my house is near the sea, and my father was a sailor; so I especially long for the sea.

The view of the mountains from Grosse Schanze, the trains coming and going, strolling in the old town through the porches, and going down to stare at the river as it flows by. I cannot choose which one I like the most; I think it all makes a magical combination.

The Innere Enge from whose terraces you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city. They have this place called Marians JazzRoom that hosts top-level performances every week, during Bern Jazz Festival including Cuban musicians such as Roberto Fonseca, Arturo O’Farrill, and Chucho Valdés.

Don't be fooled by clichés – this city surprises with its diversity and vibrancy, ensuring there's never a dull moment.

“Insumisas”, a film by Fernando Perez, a prominent figure of the Cuban cinematography, and the young Swiss director Laura Cazador. The film is based on the research of the historian Julio Cesar González Pages, who vindicated and brought back to life the story of Enriqueta Favez. Born in Lausanne in 1791, Enriqueta Favez has become a significant figure in the history of feminism, as she was the first woman to practice surgery in Cuba—and to do so, she had to disguise herself as a man.

Yes, my favourite word is: abä (exactly).

“Everyone counts.” It's a quote from José Marí, the Apostle of the Cuban independence, that reminds us of the value of each person, both in politics and in everyday life.

Şebnem İNCESU, Ambassador of Türkiye. The portrait will appear in the next newsletter.

Discover the interesting personalities who enrich our federal city.