The
extraordinary significance of the life and work of Comandante en Jefe Fidel
Castro Ruz for Cuba and the world, was highlighted by various heads of state
and dignitaries invited to attend the massive posthumous tribute to the leader
of the Cuban Revolution, in Havana’s historic José Martí Plaza de la
Revolución, November 29
November 30, 2016
16:11:23
The extraordinary
significance of the life and work of Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz for
Cuba and the world, was highlighted by various heads of state and dignitaries
invited to attend the massive posthumous tribute to the leader of the Cuban
Revolution, in Havana’s historic José Martí Plaza de la Revolución, November
29.
Hundreds of thousands
of Cubans gathered, together with Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, to honor the
indisputable world leader.
WE WILL CONTINUE
FIGHTING FOR THESE IDEAS IN ORDER TO BUILD A WORLD OF JUSTICE AND PEACE
During his remarks
honoring the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Ecuadoran President
Rafael Correa Delgado stated, “Peoples of Our America and the world: Fidel is
dead. He died undefeated. Only the inevitable passing of time could defeat him.
He died on the same day as he and 82 other patriots departed from Mexico to
make history. He died honoring his name. Fidel, worthy of faith. The faith
bestowed in him by his people and all of the Greater Homeland. The faith that
was never disappointed, and least of all betrayed.”
After highlighting the
importance of uniting the people of Our America, Correa said that with Fidel
“with Camilo Cienfuegos, with Che, with Hugo Chávez Frías, we learned to
believe in the new Latin American man, able to carry out, through organization
and conscience, the constant struggle of liberationist ideas to build a world
of justice and peace.”
We will continue
struggling for these ideas. We swear. Hasta la victoria siempre Comandante!”
concluded the Ecuadoran leader.
CUBA CHANGED
HISTORY IN AFRICA
Jacob Zuma, President
of the Republic of South Africa, stated that the passing of Fidel “is a painful
loss for the South African people. He stood with us in solidarity, supporting
our struggle including the international campaign to isolate the apartheid
regime. We knew that we could rely on Cuba, a trusted friend and ally of the
oppressed.
“…the deep and undying
special relationship between Cuba and Africa was cemented by the blood of
heroic Cuban soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice for their belief in
anti-imperialism, freedom and justice.
“Cuba deployed close
to half a million soldiers and officers in Africa, to support the struggles for
national independence or against foreign aggression, over 30 years.
“Cuba was not looking for gold, diamonds, or oil in Africa.
The Cubans only wanted
to see freedom, and an end to the treatment of Africa as a playground of
powerful nations while people suffered.”
CUBA MOURNS THE LOSS
OF A GREAT LEADER, TEACHER AND FATHER
Roosevelt Skerrit, Primer Minister of Dominica and President Pro Tempore of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) described Fidel as a true friend who reached out “to newly independent countries across Latin America and the Caribbean to assist in areas where Cuba was relatively strong. This was especially evident in the training of medical doctors and other health care workers, and the granting of scholarships in other disciplines.
“CARICOM will be
forever grateful to Fidel and to you, the Cuban people for the great sacrifices
you have made, against great adversity, in annually sustaining the training of
our professionals for decades on both a bilateral and multilateral basis.
“Cuba now mourns the
loss of a great leader, teacher and father; we share the pain and emptiness
that you feel, for we have lost a faithful and valued friend. His memory lives
on in our mission to provide for our people and to build a world in which
justice, fairness and peace prevail.”
FIDEL AND HIS IDEAS
LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS
Salvador Sánchez Cerén,
President of El Salvador noted that Fidel had a special appreciation and
respect for the Salvadoran people. “Like thousands of Salvadoran youth, I came
to know of Fidel through Radio Rebelde. For us, listening to him, signified the
awakening of our political consciousnesses and the decision to change the sad
reality of our country, the victim of a cruel military dictatorship.
“I remember that
feeling of solidarity and support for the struggle in the Sierra Maestra and
later with the triumph of the Revolution, a humanist project admired for its
resistance and dignity in the face of constant U.S. aggression.”
He went on to note
that tributes by “the Cuban people and the entire world, this immense
affection, shows us that Fidel and his ideas live in the hearts of millions of
people following his example of tireless struggle for the good of humanity.”
WE BID FAREWELL TO AN
INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE
Meanwhile Alexis
Tsipras, Prime Minister of the Republic of Greece stated in the Plaza de la
Revolución, “As befits this great 20th century revolutionary, today we bid
farewell to Comandante Fidel. We say goodbye to an international symbol of
struggle and resistance who, through his example, inspired the struggles of
peoples across the world for independence, liberty, justice and dignity.
“We bid farewell to
the Fidel of the poor, the humble, the oppressed, and those who never give up,
your Fidel, our Fidel, the Fidel that belongs to all corners of the world, the
Fidel that belongs to history.
“It is a great honor
to be participating in this historic moment on behalf of the people of Greece,
a people that live in a corner of the planet very far away from you
geographically, but close in regards to the values and ideals for which you
have struggled and continue to struggle.”
HE WILL REMAIN ALIVE
IN OUR HEARTS AND OUR MEMORY
Abdelkader Bensalah,
president of the Council of the Nation of Algeria, expressed to the Cuban
people and government “our sincere condolences on the loss of one of the best
sons of this land of kindness, the island of liberty, Cuba,” on behalf of His
Excellency the President of the Republic of Algeria, Abdelaziz Buteflika, and
the Algerian government and people.
At another point in
his speech he emphasized, “The leader Fidel Castro lived like a giant, and will
remain after his departure as a legend and a highly valuable legacy for
generations that will be inspired by his thinking to erect solid foundations in
the interest of building a world where justice, dignity and freedom prevail;
while his struggle will enlighten them in the forging of virtues such as
self-denial, sacrifice, honesty, loyalty to others, and adherence to principles
at any cost.”
THE CHINESE PEOPLE
HAVE ALSO LOST A DEAR COMRADE AND A SINCERE FRIEND
Li Yuanchao, vice
president and member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China, said that during his life, Fidel was devoted to the
friendship between Cuba and China: “He followed very closely and highly valued
the progress of our development. With his personal attention and support, Cuba
became the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with
the People’s Republic of China. Fifty-six years have passed since then, and
Chinese-Cuban relations are advancing considerably, providing fruitful results
of practical cooperation in various fields.”
The Chinese leader
added that the friendship between the two peoples grows every day and is
inseparable from the commitment and concern of Fidel. He noted that the Chinese
people would miss Fidel deeply, and that this was an enormous loss for Cuba and
the Latin American peoples.
Speaking to those
gathered in Havana he stated, “It is not only you who lose a preeminent son,
but the Chinese people also lose a dear comrade and sincere friend.”
HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE
TO EFFORTS TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE OPPRESSED
During his tribute to
the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Majid Ansari, vice president for Legal
Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, noted that what had united “this multitude
of people and heads of state, special envoys from dozens of countries, and
organizations from all over the world, is the tribute to one of the most
outstanding revolutionaries of the day, the late Comandante en Jefe Fidel
Castro Ruz. Someone whose name is recognized across the world not only as a
Cuban fighter and independentist, but as a revolutionary thinker and a
liberator for all the peoples of Latin America and the oppressed of the world.
“A person who
dedicated his life to the efforts to defend the rights of the oppressed and the
fight against colonialism, for which his name, together with those of the great
liberation leaders of history, will be eternally engraved in the memory of
humanity.”
HIS IDEAS AND DREAMS
ARE DEAR TO MANY PEOPLES, HIS CAUSE WILL TRIUMPH
Referring to the
significance of the figure of Fidel Castro Ruz, Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of
the Russian State Duma, stressed that the Cuban leader dedicated his life to
the struggle for the freedom and independence of his country: “He loved his
country and his people infinitely; his life has been the example of a true
patriot. They could not break his will, nor that of the Cuban people.”
Continuing his speech,
he highlighted that Fidel Castro became a symbol of the Cuban struggle, a struggle
that was crowned with successes. “We have a duty to remember that it is thanks
to him that Cuba has managed to preserve the most valuable thing that any state
can have: its independence. Even today his ideas and dreams are dear to many
peoples, therefore his cause will triumph.”
FIDEL WILL LIVE
ETERNALLY IN THE JUST CAUSE OF THE REVOLUTION OF HEROIC CUBAN PEOPLE
Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan,
Chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
stated that with the departure of comrade Fidel Castro, the Party, the state
and the Cuban people have lost their historic, legendary leader. “The
international communist and revolutionary movements have lost a firm,
audacious, and experienced leader. The Communist Party, the state and the
people of Vietnam have lost a very dear, beloved comrade and brother
combatant.”
She noted that the
Vietnamese people “always have engraved in our hearts the immortal phrase that
comrade Fidel dedicated to us: For Vietnam, we are ready to give even our own
blood.
“We have full
confidence that comrade Fidel will live forever in the just cause of the
Revolution of the heroic Cuban people, and in the hearts of the brotherly
peoples of the world.”
A GREAT LEADER, AN
EXCEPTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY, A FIRM MILITANT
Speaking on behalf of
the State of Qatar, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, said,
“We have today attended the memorial service of a great leader, an exceptional
revolutionary, a firm militant, an inflexible fighter, a symbol of resistance,
who reached every corner of the globe, and was present in the minds of all.
“Fidel Castro was a
giant of the struggle for national liberation. He maintained an unshakable
faith in the right of the peoples to self-determination, at a time when most of
the world’s peoples were subjected to colonialism. He fought for the causes in
which he had faith, inspired millions of human beings who lived under the yoke
of colonialism in different parts of the planet. He occupied a crowning place
among the great heroes of liberation movements in the twentieth century.”
He concluded by
stating, “His legacy, his struggle, his steadfastness in the face of challenges
will always be a source of inspiration for this generation and future
generations.”
HIS LEGACY WILL BE A
SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR A JUST AND HAPPY LIFE AMONG HUMBLE PEOPLE
Victor Sheiman,
special envoy from the Republic of Belarus, explained that, in his country,
highly valued is the enormous contribution of Fidel Castro to the development
of friendly relations between countries.
"As Aleksandr
Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, said, the luminous name of
the audacious Comandante is written in gold letters in the history of
establishing strategic collaboration between Belarus and Cuba.
"I am sure that
the immortal work of Comandante Fidel will continue its victorious path. His
legacy will be a symbol of hope for a more just and happy life among humble
people. Over the decades, Belarus has been a loyal friend and trustworthy
partner of our sister Cuba, and it will be so in the future.
“Fidel has not gone,
Fidel remains. The clear image of the invincible Comandante, his political
legacy, with be with us forever."
FIDEL IS GREATER THAN
HIS OWN LIFE, HE IS INSTALLED FOREVER IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY
Evo Morales Ayma,
President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, emphasized his admiration for
the unity and strength of the Cuban people, "A few hours ago, I heard the
pro-imperialist bourgeois press say: And now, what will Cuba do without a
leader? And we are seeing, the entire world is seeing the Cuban people more
united, stronger than ever, to continue defeating imperialist domination.
"Fidel has been a
true father to the excluded, to the marginalized, the discriminated, to the
poor of the earth. Fidel teaches us that the only road of our peoples is that
of unity and integration. Fidel is a true builder of peace with social justice.
"We would like to
tell you, brothers and sisters, Fidel has not died, because the peoples don't
die, at least not those who struggle for their liberation; this is Fidel."
At another point in
his remarks, Morales said, "Fidel is greater than his own life; he is
installed forever in the history of humanity."
FIDEL’S LESSONS WILL
CONTINUE TO GUIDE OUR STRUGGLE FOR A NEW WORLD ORDER
Hage Gottfried
Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, after highlighting the Namibian
people's love for Fidel and the importance of Cuba's internationalist missions
in Africa, said, "Fidel sent thousands of troops to Angola and Namibia to
free these countries from South African oppression. Cuito Cuanavale was a
milestone in the history of Southern Africa. In particular, the battle made
possible the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435, and that led
to the independence of Namibia in 1990.
"We still have
much to learn from a man who lived and died on his own terms."
The Namibian leader
likewise emphasized that Fidel's lessons will continue to be "a guide in
our struggle for a new world order. We must remain united, despite colonialism,
and always stay united until victory."
FIDEL CASTRO
CONSTRUCTED REVOLUTIONARY CUBA
Mexican President
Enrique Peña Nieto evoked "the memory of a man who made history,"
recalling that on November 25, 1956, the same date he died, Fidel and 82 brave
compatriots departed from the banks of the River Tuxpan, on the coast of
Veracruz, aboard the Granma. The mission they had charted was to
construct a new government to be at the service of the Cuban people, guided by
the ideals of liberty, justice, and equality. Since then, the Republic of Cuba
and the Cuban people have provided an "example of dignity and
perseverance," Peña Nieto said.
"No doubt, Fidel
Castro was the constructor of revolutionary Cuba, but even more, he was an
emblematic figure of the second half of the 20th century.
"Cuba and Mexico
are friends and neighbors, our countries are joined by deep, irreplaceable
ties. The waters of the Caribbean Sea have linked our history for centuries;
the language and culture we share remind us that Cuban and Mexican hearts beat
in solidarity and friendship."
FIDEL IS HELD MORE
FIRMLY THAN EVER IN THE HEARTS OF THIS PEOPLE
Daniel Ortega
Saavedra, President of the Republic of Nicaragua, referred to the help the
Cuban Revolution has provided the Nicaraguan people in difficult times, and
added, "Just as Fidel is held more firmly than ever in the hearts of this
people, he is firm in the hearts of Latin American and Caribbean peoples, in
the hearts of the peoples of Asia, Africa, and in the hearts of a good part of
the U.S. people, a good part of European peoples…," saying that Fidel had
understood these new times, not any easy task, and was able to adapt to
changes, while he held a conception that was repeated only once, in Nicaragua.
Ortega said, "It was Fidel and Raúl, and this people, who entered Managua
triumphantly on July 19, 1979. (Applause) That was the last victorious
revolution of the 20th century.
HE IS NOT GONE. HE
REAMAINS UNDEFEATED AMONG US - ABSOLVED, ABSOLUTELY ABSOLVED BY HISTORY!
Nicolás Maduro Moros,
President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela spoke to the huge crowd,
emphasizing the strong ties between the Cuban and Bolivarian revolutions,
referring to Fidel's lifelong devotion he said, "He went beyond fulfilling
his mission on this earth, beyond the greatest expectations there could have
been. Few lives have been so full, so luminous. He goes undefeated, this is
better, as you say, he is not gone, he remains undefeated among us, absolved,
absolutely absolved by the great history of the homeland."
At another point,
Maduro said, "It is up to us now; it is up to you, women; it is up to you,
students, youth, workers, professionals, campesinos, patriotic soldiers; it is
up to us, men and women, it is up to us today to raise the banners of dignity
and freedom for the peoples."
