VP Esteban Lazo Greets Argentinean President on Behalf of Raul Castro CUBA, May 26, 2010. Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo passed on greetings from President Raul Castro to her Argentinean counterpart Critina Fernandez on Tuesday during the fifth and final day of celebrations in Buenos Aires to mark the 100th anniversary of Argentina’s independence. At the House of Government in the Argentinean capital and minutes before the inauguration of a Gallery of Latin American Patriots —that includes portraits of Cuban National Hero Jose Marti and guerrilla Commander Ernesto Che Guevara—, Lazo congratulated Fernandez on behalf of the Cuban people and government. The Cuban vice president arrived in Buenos Aires on Monday heading a delegation from the Caribbean island to participate in the festivities. During a meeting on Tuesday with members of groups in solidarity with Cuba and with Cuban residents in Buenos Aires, Lazo said that Argentina’s independence struggle “is also part of our own independence battles.” He added that, two centuries later, the ideals of Latin American independence heroes, who believed that unity and integration were key elements to face foreign interference, are still alive and valid. During the final ceremony at the seat of the Argentinean government in Buenos Aires, Fernandez said that “in spite of our differences, we know that our path is the same path followed by Martin, Bolivar, O’Higgins and the original peoples.” “We believe in history and we have our identity, our passion for truth and justice,” she added. Present in the ceremony were the presidents of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez; Bolivia, Evo Morales; Ecuador, Rafael Correa; Paraguay, Fernando Lugo; Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; Uruguay, Jose Mujica; and Chile, Sebastian Piñera. (Cubaminrex- ACN) |