CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Speech by Mr. Marcos Rodriguez Costa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the welcoming of diplomats of the Cuban Embassy in Libya. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Havana, September 12, 2011.

Comrade José Ramón Balaguer, Head of International Relations Division of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party,

Comrade Bruno Rodriguez, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Comrades Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and members of the Directing Board,   

Dear Victor and Armandito. Their relatives

Comrades,

To honor, honors, said our National Hero Jose Marti. Honor to those who deserve it.

With pride and satisfaction we have met this morning to give a warm welcome to Ambassador Victor Ramirez Pena and Fist Secretary Armando Perez Suarez, officials at the Cuban Embassy in Libya, who has returned to the homeland, complying with the decision of the Government and Party to withdraw our diplomatic personnel in Tripoli.

During the last months, the people of Libya has been under a cruel aggression by NATO forces, who violate even the letter of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council, with the pretext to protect civilians. What they really have done is to diminish and slaughter civilians and to destroy the infrastructure of that Arab nation, to defeat its legitimate government and impose provisional authorities that would respond to the interests of Western countries and that we do not recognize.

To none it is a secret that the main purpose of this brutal aggression is to take control and share, among the big powers, the great natural resources of Libya, particularly its big oil reserves and fossil waters. Once again, the Empire’s unquenchable thirst and pillage is confirmed.

Life’s again confirmed our Commander in Chief’s wise words, who, in early dates foresaw the tragedy Libya’s suffering today.  

During their tour of duty, Victor and Armando, taking unquestionable personal risks, witnessed of the indiscriminate bombings and atrocities of the allied forces that made use of confusion and lies, through the media, as part of a psychological war, so common in these times of new imperialist pillage wars.

Victor and Armando confronted complex and difficult moments during the so called rebel’s offensive in the capital of Lybia that was subject to violence, chaos and vandalism by armed groups. All these amid frequent shootings, power shortages, communication problems and the absence of water. Within this context, there were assaults to diplomatic missions, in violation of basic principles of the international law.

Our comrades kept an attitude consequent with the revolutionary principles while protecting the facilities and values of Cuba's diplomatic mission in Tripoli.

They complied with the numerous indications and duties in such circumstances and during months they kept an information channel on Libya’s situation to our country.

We’d also want to extend our appreciation to their relatives who lived together with us through these difficult moments.

This simple but profound welcome makes us remember the Ethics Code the ambassador’s sign at Jose Marti Memorial; it demonstrates the words and compromises aren’t just letters and words, they are risks, challenges and real problems our diplomats and workers are exposed to, and they constantly put to test our condition of revolutionary men and women and above all, our conviction to represent the honourable people of Cuba who trust on us.

That has to be the diplomacy of Jose Marti, Fidel and Raul, the one taught by the Chancellor of Dignity, who was always willing to change words for fists.

Dear Victor and Armando,

Please, receive the profound acknowledgement of our directing board and workers of the Ministry, for you unquestionable work, your example to the new generations of diplomats and for placing high the prestige of Fidel, Raul and our beloved people. You have defended the principles of the Cuban Revolution, without doubts or fear.

 Welcome to the homeland!

(Cubaminrex)

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