New York, 2 December 2016.- This morning, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Peter Thomson, paid tribute in these headquarters to the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, and signed the condolence book that will remain open until next Sunday, 4 December.
Mr. Thomson was cordially welcomed by Ambassador Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal, Chargé D´Affaires a.i., to whom he conveyed his identification with the life and work of the leader of the Cuban Revolution, jointly with his wholehearted condolences to the Cuban people and Government.
Last 29 November, the President of the General Assembly requested that the formal session corresponding to Agenda item 35 “Question of Palestine”, would start by observing a minute of silence to pay homage to the memory of Fidel. Such brief ceremony was preceded by heartfelt words by Mr. Thomson who said was “deeply saddened” by the physical disappearance of the Cuban leader and described him as “one of the iconic leaders of the 20th century ", “A tireless advocate for equity in the international arena”, whose "dedication to their advancement, especially in the fields of education and health, would be long remembered."
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations