The Greek magazine Greek Diplomatic Life devoted two pages to an article on Cuba entitled “The historical route of Cuba, its continuity and bilateral relations with Greece”, written by Zelmys Maria Dominguez Cortina, Cuban ambassador to Greece. The article was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the independence of Greece and to the rich Cuban history and culture, which are an important part of the links between the Greek and Cuban peoples.
Article:
The history of struggle of the Cuban people to obtain their full freedom and sovereignty began in the 19th century, and continues to this day, in a continuous historical process of struggle and reaffirmation of national sovereignty.
Although the independence of Cuba from Spanish colonialism was much later than that of Greece, -whose 200th anniversary is celebrated this year-, the influence of the Greek revolution, and the history of resistance and struggle for Greek freedom and sovereignty were an important source of inspiration for the Cuban intelligentsia of the nineteenth century, especially for the National Hero of Cuba José Martí.
The struggles for the independence of Cuba began on October 10, 1868, with the war cry of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes who also freed his slaves, and began the Ten Years War or as it is also known Great War or War of '68 (1868-1878), which had an anti-colonialist, anti-slavery and anti-slavery character. national liberation, for the progress of the economy and society against the Spanish yoke. Although the combative actions of that first war ended in 1878 with the Peace or Pact of the Zanjón, none of the two fundamental objectives of that war were guaranteed: the independence of Cuba, and the abolition of slavery. Divisionism and regionalism were key factors in the Cuban defeat. However, it was possible to consolidate the formation of the Cuban Nation in the crucible of the struggle for freedom, where owners and slaves merged into a single Cuban people.
In this context, October 20, 1868, is considered the Day of Cuban National Culture because it was when the National Anthem of Cuba was sung for the first time, which is a call to fight for freedom, as is the Greek anthem, with the passionate verses of Dionysius Solomos.
Later, the struggle continued where the figure of the Cuban national hero José Martí was crucial for the Second War of Independence, the Necessary War or War of 95, as it was called due to begin in 1895. His revolutionary program took shape in the creation by Martí, within the emigrants, of the Cuban Revolutionary Party (PRC), proclaimed on April 10, 1892, as the only party "with everyone and for the good of all", which would lead the emancipatory struggle. Through the party and the newspaper Patria, which he also founded, Martí deployed a work to disseminate the contents of the intended social change; in turn, he used both to reestablish and strengthen the revolutionary unity around the pro-independence project that he, in his capacity as Delegate of the PRC, centered. Marti's death in combat in 1895 itself frustrated many of his ideas and, to a great extent, the possibility of achieving true independence at that time.
On this occasion the desired national independence was frustrated by the entry of the United States into the war. In the new emerging North American power, a traditional interest in the island had been manifested by its successive governments. Let us remember that in 1823, John Quincy Adams formulated the thesis known in Cuban history as the policy of "ripe fruit", according to which Cuba, due to its geographical proximity and the laws of universal gravitation, should fall into the hands of the United States. Waiting for the precise moment, the United States entered the war in 1898, beginning what was called the Spanish-Cuban-American War, which took place between May and August 1898. On January 1, 1899, the military occupation officially began of Cuba for the United States. The transfer of powers and the end of the military occupation was on May 20, 1902, although US troops remained on the island for two more years. The so-called “independent” Republic of Cuba was proclaimed, which was born without sovereignty and as a new colony of the United States.
Only with the Revolution, which triumphed on January 1, 1959, led by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, did Cuba achieve its true independence and national sovereignty, fulfilling the dreams of 19th century Cuban independentists such as José Martí, whose ideology, it has been an essential part of Cuban revolutionary thought during all these years of revolution. It was in 1959 when the Cuban people began to rule their own destiny and guaranteed their full rights and dignity. Since then, it has held high the flags of dignity, freedom, independence, sovereignty, unity and integration of Latin America and the Caribbean, democracy, socialism and solidarity with the peoples of the world.
The key to victory in these six decades of Revolution has been the close unity of the people around its vanguard, the Communist Party, and the leadership of the revolution, which continues to be essential to carry forward the consolidation and deepening of the revolutionary process, following Marti's ideology of unity as the key to victory. The constant bond and permanent consultation with the people has made this an essential part in the construction of the path of revolution, and that the people feels as a determining part of the laws, developments and essential changes throughout the revolutionary process of which it is architect.
National unity and popular participation in the main decisions of the country has also been essential to be able to resist the hostility of the United States, which is not resigned to losing the dominance they had over Cuba and for there to be a socialist revolution in what they consider to be their backyard or zone of influence. The United States has tried, by all means, to prevent Cuba from living in peace, and from being able to develop freely. To do this, it has used a genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockade, in addition to direct aggression and ideological subversion.
The role of the people has been fundamental to resist and develop the country in the face of all these aggressions, and in moments of crisis, such as when the fall of the USSR and the socialist camp occurred in the 90s of the 20th century, which implied a deep crisis for the Cuban economy.
Despite all these difficulties in all these years, Cuba can show multiple achievements such as, for example: the fulfillment of the right to free health, free and universal education is guaranteed at all levels of education, access to healthy culture and recreation is guaranteed, and it fights for the preservation of the environment and sustainable development. In addition, a legal-institutional framework has been created that guarantees full equality for all citizens regardless of their gender, skin color, national origin, religious beliefs, social condition or any other motivation that is harmful to human dignity, in addition to freedom of worship that is protected by the Cuban constitution. All workers are practically unionized and protected by collective agreements, including those in private businesses. There is union representation in the Council of Ministers and in ministerial and corporate bodies.
Since the triumph of the revolution, Cuba has also distinguished itself for its spirit of solidarity and internationalism. The role of Cuba's international cooperation in the health and biotechnology sector is very important for many countries around the world. For years Cuba has sent medical brigades to various countries, as well as received medical students, and has sent professors to create or strengthen medical schools in poor countries. Members of the International Contingent of Doctors Specialized in Disaster Situations and Serious Epidemics called Henry Reeve, who fight COVID in several countries, as before they fought Ebola in Africa or helped for earthquakes in several places, are an example of this great humanitarian work. This Cuban contingent has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, at the initiative of Greek friends multiplied in many countries around the world.
In Cuba there is also a system of science and technological innovation, linked to the free and equitable health system at all levels, which is bearing fruit with a high-quality biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, with highly specialized human resources, with dedicated scientists, all for the benefit of the people, which has made possible the results that Cuba has obtained throughout the history of the revolution and the current confrontation with the pandemic.
It is notable that in the current circumstances of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cuba has produced 5 vaccine candidates, 3 of which: Abdala, Soberana 2 and Soberana Plus, have been approved by the national regulatory authority as vaccines against COVID-19 and they have been used in intervention studies or health interventions, to millions of Cubans. In addition, the documents have been submitted for approval by the World Health Organization (WHO). Although Cuba began vaccination in May 2021, while in the world it began in December 2020, the Island shows data higher than the world average in terms of people with at least one dose and fully vaccinated people. Likewise, Cuba is carrying out a pediatric vaccination campaign - the first of its kind against the disease in the world - in children and adolescents between two and 18 years of age. All this shows the effort of science at the service of the people and the effectiveness of the public function.
Revolutionary continuity has been consolidated from the generations that began the revolution led by Fidel Castro, to the new generations, led by the President of the Republic of Cuba and First Secretary of the Communist Party Miguel Diaz Canel-Bermúdez, who gives continuity to this effort for the benefit of the nation. As Fidel said: "In Cuba there has only been one Revolution: the one that Carlos Manuel de Céspedes began on October 10, 1868 and that our people are carrying out at this time," in a permanent struggle to maintain national sovereignty.
The Cuban people and government are grateful for the many expressions of support for Cuba, from Greek solidarity friends from different political forces and spheres of society, who support the revolution, condemn the unjust blockade, show the historical and cultural links between Cuba and Greece and the love and friendship that unites our two peoples.
The Greek government has always voted in the United Nations General Assembly, as part of the European Union, in favor of the Cuban resolution condemning the blockade. It has been a traditional position of principle, which reflects the sentiment of the Greek people, against the extraterritorial nature of this genocidal instrument against the Cuban people, which also affects other international actors that interact in some way with Cuba. Once again, Cuba will present this year in the General Assembly of the United Nations, the resolution condemning the US blockade against Cuba, for which it counts as every year, with the support of the overwhelming majority of the countries of the world among which find Greece.
Bilateral relations between Cuba and Greece have always been normal and stable. At times they have been further developed in various spheres with the signing of cultural and diplomatic agreements, between prosecutors, exchanges of visits at different levels and sectors, among other aspects.
There are parliamentary groups of friendship with Cuba in the Hellenic Parliament and with Greece in the National Assembly of People's Power (Cuban parliament).
There is a Cuban community in Greece and a Greek community in Cuba, which contribute to this special relationship between the two countries.
The Cuban people are lovers of peace, have a deep humanist vocation and will not renounce the construction of an inclusive, democratic, prosperous and sustainable socialist society "with everyone and for the good of all." It will continue to help the peoples of the world and actively participate in international forums, raising its voice for the right of the peoples to their full sovereignty and national self-determination, condemning weapons of mass destruction and calling for care for the environment.
Cuba will always continue to be an example of social justice and of how a better and different world is possible.
