Canberra, August 28, 2026. The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Australia hosted a moving ceremony this Friday to award the Friendship Medal to Adriana Navarro and Alejandro Zúñiga, two dear friends of Cuba whose more than four decades of solidarity work exemplify commitment, loyalty, and defense of the ties between our two peoples.
The Friendship Medal is an award bestowed by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, upon the recommendation of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), upon the recommendation of individuals who have made significant contributions to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Cuba. The award recognizes not only specific actions but also a sustained history of support and solidarity.
During the ceremony, the Cuban Ambassador to Australia, Gilma Moreira Lino, highlighted the dedication and consistency of the honorees. She noted that Adriana Navarro, a Chilean-Australian lawyer and human rights advocate, has dedicated decades of her professional experience, voice, and commitment to serving Cuba. She also highlighted Navarro's participation in political and cultural initiatives and her contribution to the work of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (ACFS) in Sydney.
The ambassador also recognized the career of Alejandro Zúñiga, whose constant involvement with the ACFS in Sydney, solidarity campaigns, actions against the blockade, and support for the Southern Cross Brigade have been a pillar of the friendship movement with Cuba in Australia and demonstrate his commitment and love for Cuba.
Upon receiving the award, Adriana Navarro thanked the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, for bestowing the medal. She expressed that receiving it was a profound honor and acknowledged other ACFS members distinguished for their solidarity. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of continuing to build bonds of friendship, cooperation, and mutual support between Australia and Cuba.
In her remarks, Navarro denounced the United States' hostile policy toward Cuba and the effects of the blockade, which she described as a weapon of control and recolonization. She reaffirmed her commitment to continue promoting in Australia the lifting of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States, as well as respect for Cuban sovereignty and the Cuban people's right to development.
The ceremony took place in an atmosphere of profound emotion and gratitude. The awarding of the Friendship Medal to Adriana Navarro and Alejandro Zúñiga is an expression of Cuba's appreciation for more than forty years of unwavering solidarity and helps to highlight the role of Cuba's friends in Australia in defending the truth, promoting Cuban culture, and strengthening ties between the two peoples.