CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba
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By Jorge Martín Blandino.
Those present at the official ceremony included the presidents of Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Honduras, as well as other members of delegations to the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development, which had ended a few hours earlier. The people of Bahía in attendance were overflowing with combative spirit and repeatedly chanted slogans in support of the revolutionary processes on the continent, holding up placards in support of Venezuela and Cuba, together with a large banner demanding justice for the Cuban Five, our heroes imprisoned by the empire. After the national anthems of Venezuela and Brazil were played, Chávez expressed warm greetings to the people and authorities of Bahía, President Lula and Fidel, who has gained the admiration, affection and respect of the continent. He noted that the Cuban people would soon be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Revolution, which was met with an ovation by those attending the ceremony. He said he would be brief to leave more speaking time for "Raúl, who is my uncle, because Fidel is my father." In his words to those present, the Cuban president referred to the many similarities between the peoples of Brazil and Cuba, who have the same roots, and particularly between the cities of Salvador and Santiago de Cuba. He briefly summed up the principal moments of Cuba’s internationalist mission in Angola and affirmed that our people had assumed that as a way of paying a debt of gratitude to Africa. He said that that same spirit now presides over Cuba’s solidarity aid to other peoples in health, education and many other fields. |
