Fidel Lives in Lebanon 100 Years After His Birth
At the Cuban Embassy in Lebanon, the Cuban community and the Associations of Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba held a moving ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, whose living presence endures forever in Lebanon and throughout the world.
The ceremony began with the screening of videos of speeches by Fidel which, as Ambassador Jorge P. León Cruz emphasized, demonstrate the enduring relevance of his ideas, his work, and his legacy.
Speakers included Mayra Nieves Escobar, in charge of Consular Affairs; Maurice Nohra, President of the Lebanese-Cuban Friendship Association; Dr. Fawaz Bibi, President of the Palestinian-Cuban Friendship Association; Ali Al Khatib, President of the League of Palestinian Graduates of Cuban Universities and Institutes; and Wafica Ibrahim, President of the “José Martí” Arab-Latin American Solidarity Association, who paid tribute to the Commander-in-Chief and highlighted his ethical, internationalist, and anti-imperialist ideology.
The closing remarks were delivered by the Cuban ambassador, who highlighted Fidel’s work and legacy, as well as his universal vision—directly linked to José Martí’s philosophy that “the homeland is humanity.” His fervent advocacy for peace, the preservation of the planet, and the defense of the just causes of the peoples made him an unforgettable paradigm and universal role model.
He emphasized that this tribute cannot be separated from the reality our people are facing today, when attempts to dominate our region persist and Cuba continues to face a policy of economic suffocation aimed at forcing an entire people to surrender through hunger and deprivation. The intensification of the blockade, unilateral coercive measures, and the energy blockade constitute a veritable war without bombs: an act of aggression that seeks to extinguish hope, punish resistance, and break the will of a nation that has chosen to be free.
But, as Fidel taught us, dignity cannot be blocked, sovereignty is not negotiable, and the conscience of a people can never be defeated.
One hundred years after his birth, the best tribute we can pay to Fidel is not only to remember him, but to keep his legacy alive, to defend the truth about Cuba, and to believe—as he always did—that small nations can make history when they do not surrender their dignity.
With deep pride, we honor Fidel on the centennial of his birth.
Long live our Commander-in-Chief!
Long live the Cuban Revolution!
Long live solidarity among peoples!
Fatherland or Death—We Shall Overcome.