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President Colom Pays Tribute to Guatemalan and Cuban Heroes

CUBA, February 16, 2009. Guatemala's President Alvaro Colom paid tribute to heroes from his country and Cuba, and thanked the island on behalf of his government and the Guatemalan people for its solidarity. The Guatemalan president, accompanied by his wife Sandra Torres de Colom and the first deputy foreign affairs minister, Alejandro Gonzalez, laid floral wreaths by the Pantheon of Emigrants and of the Revolutionary Armed Forces at the Colon Cemetery, in a tribute to Guatemalans Manuel Galich and Guillermo Torriello, who gave their lives for the independence of their country.

In a brief speech during the ceremony, Colom said younger generations of Guatemalans do not have any heroes because they were hidden, minimized and left in the dark, and stated that it is his government's responsibility to bring them to light and pass on the real history to the youth.

The distinguished visitor reiterated his appreciation to the Cuban government for always being by Guatemala's side, in particular during his mandate. He mentioned as an example of the Cuban support, the 26 million medical consultations given by Cuban doctors and also the 40,000 eye operations performed by surgeons from the island as part of the Miracle Operation program.

That is highly valued and appreciated by the Guatemalan people, said the president who arrived Sunday night in Havana for an official visit during which he is expected to meet with Cuban leader Raul Castro.

Colom paid homage as well to Oscar Morales Delgado, a Cuban cadet who died in Guatemala and was the adopted son of the B. Hammel family.

Carlota Sandoval, representative of the Union of Guatemalan Residents in Cuba thanked the Cuban government and people for accepting them and for letting them pay tribute to all the Guatemalans whose remains are resting in Cuba.

Previously in the day, Colom paid homage to Cuban national hero Jose Marti at the Revolution square in Havana and visited the museum in the monument to Marti, where he learned first hand about his life and work.

Colom and the delegation accompanying him on his visit to Cuba will inaugurate a park dedicated to the friendship between the island and Guatemala. After the ceremony scheduled for this Monday, the visiting president is expected to hold official talks with Raul Castro.
(Cubaminrex - ACN)