Excellences,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,
Today, as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, we pay tribute to a Cuban leader whose life and work transcended the borders of our country and left an enduring mark on contemporary history.
From the very beginning of his revolutionary struggle, Fidel devoted himself to the cause of Cuba’s independence, sovereignty and dignity. His commitment was not limited to the liberation of Cuba from dictatorship and foreign domination. After the triumph of the Revolution, he dedicated his life to building a society centered on the well-being, dignity, education, health and social justice of the Cuban people.
Fidel understood solidarity as a fundamental principle of international relations. Under his leadership, Cuba shared what it had, rather than what it had in excess. Cuban doctors, teachers, technicians and other professionals have reached communities in need in every corner of the world. Cuba’s cooperation in health, education and disaster response became one of the most visible expressions of Fidel’s conviction that international solidarity must prevail over selfishness and indifference.
His influence extended far beyond Latin America and the Caribbean. Fidel became an important voice for the countries of the Global South and for peoples struggling for independence, development and social justice. On the international stage, he consistently defended the right of every nation to choose its own path without external interference. He denounced colonialism, neocolonialism and imperialism, and was particularly steadfast in opposing the policies of domination and aggression pursued by the United States against Cuba.
Throughout his life, Fidel defended the interests of developing countries and called for a more just and equitable international economic and political order. His speeches and actions gave voice to millions who demanded respect for their sovereignty and their right to development.
One hundred years after his birth, Fidel’s legacy remains alive. It is present in the values of solidarity, resistance, dignity, internationalism and commitment to social justice that continue to inspire generations of Cubans.
Today, this legacy acquires particular significance. Cuba continues to face the effects of an unjust and intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade and hostile policies promoted by the Trump Administration. In these difficult circumstances, the new generations of Cubans are called upon to preserve Cuba’s independence, defend its sovereignty and continue building the future of the nation with determination, unity and confidence.
Fidel once said that “Revolution is a sense of the historical moment.” His 100th anniversary invites us not only to remember his extraordinary life, but also to understand the responsibility of carrying forward the principles to which he devoted his existence.
For Cuba, Fidel is history, but he is also a living legacy and a source of inspiration for the future.
Long live the legacy of Fidel Castro.
Long live Cuba.
Long live international solidarity and the struggle for a more just world