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Jun

2017

Message of Condolences sent by the Hero of the Republic of Cuba and President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples Fernando González Llort for the death of Andimba Toivo ya Toivo.

To relatives and friends of Cuba's legendary friend Toivo Ya Toivo:

With great consternation we received the sad news of the physical disappearance of the legendary friend of Cuba Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, icon of solidarity with Cuba and Patron of the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association, with whom we had the privilege of sharing important moments only two days before his passing away.

Since he was young, Toivo dedicated his life to the struggle for just causes, with an extensive political trajectory. He was the founder of the SWAPO (South West African People's Organization Party). He fought against the opprobrious apartheid regime and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, of which he served 16 on Roben Island with Nelson Mandela. Following the independence of Namibia, he continued firm to its political principles, looking over the future of a free and independent Namibia as it is today. He became a political figure with great prestige and very respected in his country.

He maintained excellent relations with Cuba and he always demonstrated his unconditional support and solidarity towards the Cuban Revolution, its leaders and people in general. For his attitude and consistency in the work of Solidarity was worthy of the Medal of Friendship granted by the Council of State on the proposal of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples.

He participated actively in all the activities in support of Cuba and its people, not only in Namibia but also in others international sceneries. He was the promoter of the International Campaign for the Liberation of the Five in his country during their 16 years of unjust imprisonment as well as other Cuban causes that we continue defending.

He was received in Cuba and ICAP on several occasions. He accompanied us at the III Regional Conference of Solidarity with Cuba held in Angola and honored us with his active presence in the recently finished V Continental Conference. We will always keep great memories about our friendship and his support to the Cuban delegation participating in the last Event of Solidarity held in Namibia.

Our dear friend Toivo is an example to follow for present and future generations, a dignified and revolutionary man, who accompanied Cuba until the last days of his life.

Cuba is honored to have had Toivo Ya Toivo as one of his most faithful friends and today with sincerely regrets his loss, with the conviction that he will always live in the heart of Namibians and Cubans.

Our most sincere condolences to his family, friends and his beloved Namibian people.

Fernando González Llort

President

Jun

2017

President Raúl Castro sends a message of condolences for the death of Andimba Toivo and Toivo.

The President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Army General Raul Castro, sent a message of condolences to his Namibian counterpart, Hage Geingob, for the death of Namibian independence leader Andimba Toivo ya Toivo.

Comrade Toivo is one of the icons of the anti-apartheid struggle in Namibia. He was co-founder of SWAPO in 1960 and of its predecessor the Ovambo People's Organization. For his political activism he was imprisoned in 1966 and sentenced to 20 years in prison at Robben Island, where he spent 16 years in the same section as Nelson Mandela. After independence he had diverse responsibilities until he retired from political life in 2006.

Toivo was also a strong supporter of Cuba and its Revolution. During the imprisonment of the Five Heroes, he participated actively in the struggle for his liberation.

At the time of his death, on June 9 in Windhoek, capital of the African country, he was the Patron of the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association. His last public appearance was at the V Continental Conference of Solidarity with the Greater Antilles held in Namibia from June 5 to 7.

The Army General said:

“I have known of the death of the beloved comrade Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, outstanding historical leader of SWAPO and President of the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Namibian government and people, as well as the relatives of Comrade Toivo.”

Cuba has lost a great friend.

Jun

2017

DECLARATION OF THE FIFTH CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA HELD IN WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA JUNE 5-7, 2017

1. We the 183 delegates representing 26 African countries as well as Cuba and organizations from the United States of America gathered at the Fifth Continental Conference of Solidarity with Cuba held in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme: “Intensifying Solidarity with Cuba and Preserving the Legacy of Fidel and Che”, organized by the Government of the Republic of Namibia in conjunction with the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), declare the following:

2. We pay tribute to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, a man highly admired by the Cubans, revolutionaries and friends from different parts of the world, particularly on the African Continent. Over 55 years, imperialism failed in its multiple attempts to destroy him and the Cuban Revolution. Notwithstanding, today his legacy and principles remain valid and reaffirmed.

3. We equally pay tribute to another key symbol of solidarity and internationalism, Ernesto Che Guevara, on the 50th anniversary of his vile murder.

4. We reaffirm our commitment to continue to develop and further strengthen the Solidarity Movement with Cuba in each of our countries, fighting for unity and truth. We demand the end of the illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States of America and further demand that the government of the United States comply with the Resolutions adopted for that purpose by the United Nations General Assembly over the last 25 years. Furthermore, we shall continue to actively advocate for the lifting of the economic blockade on Cuba imposed by the Government of the United States and actively promote trade at the highest level.

5. We demand the unconditional return to the government and people of Cuba of the territory illegally occupied by the government of the United States at the Naval Base in Guantanamo. In this context, we strongly denounce the constant violations of human rights in the prison of the United States’ government located at the Naval Base, under the hypocrisy of fighting against global terrorism.

6. We demand respect for Cuba's right to self-determination and sovereignty and their right to pursue choose the political system of their choice.

7. We support the causes of all sister countries that are fighting for a better world, with social justice and equal opportunities worldwide. In particular, we pledge our support to Puerto Rico in their struggle for self-determination, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and the people of Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, and all the people of the continent who defend their sovereignty, which imperialist governments are trying to defeat.

8. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the realization of the inalienable rights of the people of Western Sahara and Palestine to self-determination, independence and statehood; and call for the implementation of the relevant UN resolutions, including the holding of the UN-supervised referendum in Western Sahara and the settlement of the Question of Palestine.

9. We applaud the work of comrade Kenia Serrano Puig, former President of ICAP, who contributed to expand and strengthen the International Solidarity Movement with Cuba during her 8 years term of office. At the same time, the Conference welcome with great satisfaction the election of the Hero of the Republic of Cuba, Fernando Gonzales Llort (one of the Cuban Five) as the new President of ICAP.

10. We commend the assistance extended by the Communist Party of Cuba, the Cuban Government and People in the socio-economic spheres. We further commend and support the Cuban professionals who have continued to render support services in our different countries for the positive impact they continue to make on the socio-economic development.

11. We express our thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Namibia for having successfully hosted the Fifth Continental Conference on Solidarity with Cuba, which would have a multiplier effect on peace and fraternity among nations and peoples.

12. We particularly express our deep appreciation to His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia for opening the 5th Solidarity Conference, and for his message of solidarity and unwavering support with the government and people of Cuba.

13. We also express our appreciation to His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for his solidarity message to the Conference.

14. We equally applaud the participation at the Fifth Continental Solidarity Conference of His Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma, Founding President of the Republic of Namibia; Comrade Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, President of the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association; and Commander Victor Dreke, who was Second in command of the Cuban Battalion that Che Guevara headed on its solidarity mission to Africa.

15. We welcome the offer by Nigeria to host the Sixth Continental Africa Conference in Solidarity with Cuba.

16. We pledge to strictly comply with this Declaration.

Issued by the Fifth Continental Conference of Solidarity with Cuba, held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 5th to 7th June 2017.

Jun

2017

To honour the commitment to Cuba

The 5th Continental Solidarity Conference in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, not only left stories of solidarity, personal efforts and evidence that Cubans and Africans are one.

During the last day of its official activities, the medal for the 60th Anniversary of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), awarded by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, was given for the first time on the African continent.

The distinction was received by the Cuban ambassador in Namibia, Giraldo Mazola Collazo, in recognition of his revolutionary career, begun before 1959, and for his continued work in favour of the Cuban Revolution.

Commander Víctor Dreke Cruz (known as Moya by the Africans for being the name he had in the contingent headed by Che in former Zaire), president of the Revolutionary Combatants Association of Havana and President of the Friendship Association Cuba-Africa, who is in the country as part of the Cuban delegation, imposed the decoration on the Ambassador.

During the ceremony were also present government figures such as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah; Parliament Speaker Peter Katjavivi, the Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation, Peya Mushelenga and Maureen Hinda, of Environment Tommy Nambahu, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga among other officials as well as members of the Namibia - Cuba Friendship Association.

On the Cuban side, Fernando González Llort, president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), participated along with other representatives who attended to the V Continental Conference of Solidarity.

Jun

2017

Cuba and Africa: The history that unites us

The first day of the Fifth Continental Conference of Solidarity with Cuba in Windhoek was a representation of what our country means for Africa: brotherhood, support, strength, friendship. Precisely, "Cuba has been an integral part of our lost battles and our battles won, until the final victory," said the Namibian president Hage Geingob at the inauguration of the important event.

Before asking for a minute's silence for Fidel in the conference hall of the Namibian capital, Geingob stated that no other person has left such a lasting legacy in the struggle for self-determination.

Among the objectives of the conference, he mentioned the discussion of the priorities in the actions of solidarity and the strengthening of the ties between the organizations of the continent. Also agree on new strategies to fight against the blockade imposed by the US government on Cuba.

"Africa will continue to support the people of Cuba until the complete elimination of economic and trade restrictions is achieved."

Namibia as the venue for this important conference is another platform to further promote friendship and solidarity in our nations. "This event will lead to the development of a common African strategy to support Cuba during this difficult time due to the economic reasons associated with the blockade," he added.

On the current context of the region, he said "we are living an era in which we are witnessing the emergence of the new Africa ... but we assume that as Africans we should be responsible for our own development.

During the inaugural session, Fernando González Llort, president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), emphasized: "In Africa, the essence of our nation is more than our roots."

"The complex international reality forces us to multiply our political and solidarity actions to prevent that the achievements of our people, with the amount of blood and sacrifice that these costed, be snatched from those who made them possible."

Speaking at the first session of the Fifth Continental Conference of Solidarity, the Cuban Hero reminded those present of the historical ties between the African continent and our country, as well as thanked the constant support to the cause for the return of the Cuban Five Heroes.

On Fidel's legacy, which is part of the debates of this meeting, he said: "There has never been a single non-African man in history who has done so much for Africa as Fidel. This undoubtedly leaves us the challenge to keep alive his legacy and to be consistent with his example and teachings. "

"What we have achieved to this day has been possible also thanks to the permanent solidarity we have received from the governments and peoples of the world, especially our African brothers," he said.

After cataloguing this event as transcendental, González thanked the Government and the Chancellery of Namibia, as well as the movements of solidarity for the organization of the event.

On Monday, delegates from Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Zambia and Ethiopia made reference to the ties that unite them with the island. Each of them emphasized Cuba's solidarity with the African continent. Meanwhile, other participants highlighted Cuba's right to self-determination.

The Conference divided into two commissions will today work on common positions to strengthen the fight against the blockade and the return of the illegally occupied territory of Guantánamo Base. As well as concrete more actions of solidarity and promote the legacy of Fidel and Che.

The debates on Tuesday will be included in the final declaration of this solidarity meeting, which concludes on June 7.

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