As every January, the duty to pay tribute to the most universal of Cubans gathered again solidary friends with Cuba, Ambassadors, and members of the diplomatic corps of the Latin American and the Caribbean accredited to Austria, as well as the community of Cuban residents in this country on the occasion to commemorate the 166th anniversary of the José Martí ´s birth, this 28 January.
As usual, the meeting took place at the Latin American Square of the Donaupark, where the bust of José Martí was raised to perpetuate the memory and to pay tribute to our National Hero and to Martí of the Americas.
Martí´s bust was unveiled on 19 May 2004, as a result of a joint effort between the Austria-Cuba Friendship Association (ÖKG, by its German initials), the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, and the City Hall of Vienna. It is a life-size work made of bronze by the Cuban artist Alberto Lezcay.
On the occasion of the commemoration, the Ambassador of Cuba, H.E. Mr. Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios laid a wreath of flowers in the José Martí ´s Monument and delivered moving remembrance words to the Apostle of the Cuban Liberty, who dedicated his whole life and ideals to reach unity of all Cubans and to whom the most important anxiety was to established a free and independent republic.
The Ambassador referred to the validity of Martí´s thinking for Our America and his call for unity and integration of the continent, in the rich diversity we share.
The Versos Sencillos (Simples Verses) of José Martí, in their musical version, were played by Cuban musicians and guitarists who led the cultural moment.
(Embacuba Austria / Cubaminrex)