Nicosia, Cyprus. July 24, 2026. - The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Cyprus held a heartfelt commemoration on Thursday, July 23, for the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, in a tribute shared with the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, on the occasion of the celebration throughout 2026 of the centenary of his birth.
In the company of diplomats from Brazil, China, Russia, and Palestine; representatives of the Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), Sotiroula Charalambous, General Secretary of the All-Cypriot Federation of Labour (PEO); members of the United Democratic Youth Organization (EDON) of Cyprus; the All-Cypriot Association of Democratic Resistance; the Cyprus-Cuba Friendship Association; and Greek and Turkish Cypriot solidarity from all over the island and, in particular, from the Mayor's Office of Potamiá, they also accompanied friends from Italy and Mexico who, together with Cubans living on the Mediterranean island, "embraced" the tribute to the Moncada feat.
Along with thanking the large turnout at the Cuban Embassy in Nicosia and emphasising the historical significance of the actions of July 26, 1953, for the Cuban nation, the host ambassador, Rubén Pino Martínez, commented on and presented to the attendees an audiovisual that illustrates the background and subsequent events of that “driving force” of the country's revolutionary history.
In his speech, the member of the Secretariat and the Political Bureau of the AKEL Party, deputy and comrade Aristos Danianou, expressed his emotion “for representing the leadership of AKEL to commemorate the anniversary of one of the most significant events of the 20th-century revolutionary and anti-imperialist movement (…) a day that marked the beginning of the Cuban Revolution and forever changed the course of Cuba – and indeed, of Latin America – forever.”
The actions of July 26, 1953, which showed how setbacks can be turned into victories, -- according to Aristos Damianou -- “are not just another anniversary in modern Cuban history. They are a symbol of resistance against tyranny, a symbol of faith in the power of a people to determine their own future.”
Damianou recalled the historic defence made by Fidel when he spoke those words, 'destined to be indelibly recorded in world history, in the collective memory of humanity, guiding all of us who struggle with justice as our compass: "Condemn me, it doesn’t matter; history will absolve me!" And, indeed, history vindicated him. Just as it vindicated the visions and political goals of an entire people, he noted.
From this setting, AKEL also reiterated its historic position, demonstrated over the years, of demanding the immediate, complete, and unconditional lifting of the U.S. blockade against Cuba, as well as its attempt to subjugate the Cuban people through economic strangulation.
“Our relations are not based solely on the friendship between our peoples,” specified the also president of the Standing Committee on Internal Affairs of the House of Representatives of Cyprus. “They are based on shared values of peace, social justice, internationalism, solidarity, and the fight against imperialism, occupation, and all forms of oppression.”
They took the opportunity "to denounce the unjust and illegal inclusion of Cuba on the arbitrary U.S. list of so-called 'state sponsors of terrorism', which today deprives the island of significant international access; a list 'that has no legitimacy as it is made by a state that in turn promotes imperialist terrorism, interventions, and coups staged against innocent peoples.'
'AKEL will continue to strongly support Cuba until the blockade is finally lifted, until respect for international law prevails, and until all peoples can freely decide on their present and future.'
When recalling the victory of a small nation that was able to show how injustice can be overthrown when it has unity, political will, and faith in its own strength, Damianou also paid tribute to Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro as one of "the most iconic figures of the last century", whose name "became synonymous with the defence of Cuba's dignity against all forms of external interference and imposition".
The evening concluded with a presentation by the Cuban ambassador of the audiovisual work "Fidel", created by the Havana-based centre of the same name and translated into Greek for this tribute, based on the testimonies of Cuban writer, journalist, and essayist Katiuska Blanco, who recalls unforgettable experiences from her work as a collaborator of the Commander-in-Chief during his last 17 fruitful years of life.
Embassy of Cuba in Cyprus.