Fidel Castro's Birthday

Fidel, the most visionary Cuban of the 20th century

Fidel, the most visionary Cuban of the 20th century
On the occasion of the anniversary of Fidel’s birth, Granma shares excerpts from a speech by First Party Secretary Raúl Castro Ruz, December 3, 2016

Author: Raúl Castro Ruz | internet@granma.cu
august 13, 2019 09:08:51

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Photo: Yousuf Karsh/Camera Press
Fidel’s authority and his close relationship with the people were key to the country’s heroic resistance during the dramatic years of the Special Period…

At that time few in the world would have bet on our ability to resist and overcome in the face of adversity and the intensification of the enemy blockade. Our people, however, under the leadership of Fidel, provided an unforgettable lesson in resolve and loyalty to the principles of the Revolution.

Recalling these difficult moments, I think it right and fitting to return to what I said about Fidel on July 26, 1994, one of the most difficult years, on the Isle of Youth, over 22 years ago, I quote: “The most illustrious son of Cuba this century, he who showed us that the attempt to capture the Moncada Garrison was possible; that we were able to turn that loss into a victory,” which we achieved five years, five months. and five days later, on that glorious January 1 of 1959 – this last comment added to the words I spoke on that occasion.

He showed us, “Yes, it was possible to reach the coast of Cuba in the Granma yacht; that yes, it was possible to resist the enemy, hunger, rain and cold, and organize a revolutionary army in the Sierra Maestra following the Alegría de Pío debacle; that yes, it was possible to open new guerilla fronts in the province of Oriente, with ours and Almeida’s columns; that yes, it was possible to defeat the great offensive of over 10,000 soldiers with only 300 rifles,” after which Che wrote in his Campaign Diary, that with this victory the backbone of the army of the tyranny had been broken: “That yes, it was possible to repeat the feats of Maceo and Gómez, extending with Che and Camilo’s columns the struggle from the east to the west of the island; that yes, it was possible to defeat, with the support of the entire people, the tyranny of Batista, backed by U.S. imperialism. Continue reading Fidel, the most visionary Cuban of the 20th century →

first vice president

Salvador Valdés Mesa, first vice president visits the province of Artemisa

Salvador Valdés visits the province of Artemisa
Salvador Valdés Mesa, first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers, began a working visit to the province of Artemisa to verify the status of agricultural production, the plans for the upcoming cold season, and supplies available to the population

Digital news staffaugust 9, 2019 10:08:15

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Photo: twitter.com/PresidenciaCuba
Salvador Valdés Mesa, first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers and Party Political Bureau member, began a working visit to the province of Artemisa to verify the status of agricultural production, the plans for the upcoming cold season, and supplies available to the population.

The Vice President was accompanied by Gladys Martínez, first secretary of the Party in the province, and Juan Domínguez Miranda, President of the Provincial Assembly of People’s Power.

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Photo: twitter.com/PresidenciaCuba
A number of issues including food sovereignty, produce sent to the Capital, municipal food self-sufficiency, savings, the effectiveness of planning, as well as discipline and control in implementation of plans, were addressed in a meeting of the Provincial Administrative Council.

Valdés Mesa, according to Presidential website, said that he will not renounce efforts to build socialism but it is necessary to change the ways in which things are done, to ensure that our socialism is sustainable.

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Photo: twitter.com/PresidenciaCuba
As part of his visit to Artemisa, the Vice President visited the San Juan “El Brujo” far,, affiliated with the Antero Regalado Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS), and the “Dos Amigos” associated with the Frank País CCS in the municipality of Alquízar, as well as the Waldo Díaz Agricultural Production Cooperative in Güira de Melena.

Cuban Russian Friendship

General Raúl Castro Ruz and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the statue of the Republic

An enduring symbol of the undefeated, combative homeland
Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, cut the ribbon at a ceremony to re-inaugurate the statue of the Republic, following its restoration
Yudy Castro Moralesaugust 8, 2019 11:08:20

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Photo: Estudios Revolución
Impressive at the center of a space that befits it, the extraordinary statue of the República stands in the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos, in Cuba’s Capitolio, headquarters of the National Assembly, returned to its previous majesty in a recently concluded process of restoration.
In a July 24 ceremony to re-inaugurate the statue was presided by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, who with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, cut the ribbon, in the presence of Political Bureau members Esteban Lazo Hernández, National Assembly President, and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.Also on hand, were other government officials and Gambian Foreign Minister Dr. Mamadou Tangara, who, along with Lavrov, was on an official visit to our country.The statue, according to Dr. Eusebio Leal Spengler, Havana city historian, represents “a symbol of the nation”, which for decades has presided over the Capital’s great hall. At the time of its creation, and still today, the República is the third tallest indoor statue in the world, second only to the Golden Buddha in Japan and that of Abraham Lincoln in Washington.

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Photo: Estudios Revolución
It weighs, he said, “a formidable 49 tons,” of bronze, the work of Italian architect and sculptor, Ángelo Zanelli, which rises to 18.16 meters. The sublime work stands on a pedestal of “ancient Egyptian marble.”
Leal thanked the Russian government for its donation that made possible the restoration of the magnificent statue, which involved a chemical and mechanical cleaning, the repair of cracks and its gold plating. He recognized “the serious work” of the Russian company whose specialists are also participating in efforts to renovate the Capitol’s dome.

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Photo: Estudios Revolución
Eight Russian women and 14 men were responsible for the project, which began October 17, 2018, and was concluded this past June 21.
Eusebio Leal went on to say that the grand sculpture of a woman holding a spear and a shield, is a symbol of the “undefeated, combative homeland,” and expresses the “continuing will of the Cuban people, who began the struggle in 1868.”
The City Historian explained that the gold also arrived from Russia to plate the statue and the dome, which, he announced, will be unveiled this coming September, as a key part of the Capitol’s renovation. Twenty-four carat gold, he reiterated, “of the highest grade, as pure and important as the friendship between the Russian Federation and the Cuban nation.”
In his remarks, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov emphasized the significance of the Capitol for all generations of Cubans, the sacred site of the Tomb of the Unknown Mambi; as well as its importance as the seat of National Assembly of People’s Power, which directs its efforts toward the development of the country. “Cuba is a faithful friend and strategic partner,” he said. “Our relations have passed the test of time and today continue to develop intensely in all directions.”He said that this joint project was a good example of cooperation between the two nations and reflects the friendship and mutual support that unite us.After the ribbon cutting, Raúl conversed with the restoration team and congratulated them for their excellent work on one of the Capitol’s most valuable pieces.

A to threat to Cuba

The United States is a threat to the region’s peace and security

The United States government poses the most urgent threat of the last five decades to the region’s peace and security
Excerpts from speech delivered by Army General Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Party Central Committee, April 10, 2019, on the occasion of the proclamation of the new Constitution, in the National Assembly of People’s Power

Raúl Castro Ruzaugust 7, 2019 15:08:26

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Photo: Granma Archives
During the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of Moncada, and January 1, this year, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, I warned of the adverse panorama that was developing and the resurgence of our enemies’ enthusiasm and rush to destroy the example of Cuba. On both occasions I reiterated the conviction that the empire’s siege was tightening around Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. The facts have confirmed that assessment.
The region that Martí called Our America has, in recent times, been able to strengthen regional independence, in a climate of peace, cooperation, and harmony among its member states.

With the precept of achieving unity within diversity, sustained progress was made towards integration, complementarity, and the agreement among all to solve the economic and social problems of our peoples.

Latin America and the Caribbean were declared a Zone of Peace and progress was also made in the goal of reaching a more respectful relationship with northern neighbors.

The scenario today is different. The current government of the United States, with its hegemonic ambitions for the region, poses the most urgent threat of the last five decades to the peace, security, and well-being of Latin America and the Caribbean.

In pursuit of establishing its domination, several coups were orchestrated over a number of years, in one case, a military one, and others of a parliamentary nature, to remove progressive Presidents from office, while the participation of leftist leaders in elections was prevented via media campaigns and malicious legal charges. Precisely, last Sunday, marked the end of the first year of compañero Inácio Lula da Silva’s unjust incarceration, whose freedom we demand.

Unfortunately, there are governments and political forces that irresponsibly join imperialism in this warlike escalation.
The relentless siege of the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, using methods of unconventional warfare and economic strangulation, is the main target of aggression, but, the threat concerns us all.

The Venezuelan government and the Chavista people are writing admirable chapters of resistance. On Bolivarian soil, being defined today is whether Latin American and Caribbean nations have the right to self-determination, if sovereign power rests with the people or with a foreign government, if it is acceptable for a powerful country to determine the rulers of an independent state, if the rules and principles governing the United Nations have real value or are dead letter, if the peoples of the region will remain passive before the imposition of a sovereign power in a sister nation or respond to repudiate the crime.

We reaffirm, from this Parliament, our firm solidarity and support to the Bolivarian Chavista Revolution, President Nicolás Maduro Moros, and his people’s civic-military union.

To the more than 20,000 Cuban collaborators, 61% of them women, who are fulfilling missions in Venezuela, I convey our deep appreciation for their commitment and consecration to the noble, deeply humanitarian task they perform in the service of families in this sister nation.

(Excerpts from speech delivered by Army General Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Party Central Committee, April 10, 2019, on the occasion of the proclamation of the new Constitution, in the National Assembly of People’s Power)