Emphatic gratitude for his official visit to the Greater Antilles, and a warm welcome was extended this Monday by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, to the secretary general of the World Council of Iglesias (WCC), Reverend Dr. Jerry Pillay.
In the capital's Convention Palace - from where this Monday the Second Ordinary Period of Sessions of the National Assembly of People's Power in its 10th Legislature began -, the Head of State made space, at the stroke of noon, to talk with the important leader religious, to whom he said: “I know that you have had an intense visiting program, sharing with the Council of Churches of Cuba.”
Díaz-Canel Bermúdez told the Reverend that the meeting, “for us, has the significance of giving continuity” to others already held, and also to the one that recently took place in New York. “For us,” the dignitary said, “it is an expression of all the support, of all the sensitivity that you have about the problems of the Cuban people.”
As a “fact that gives us strength, gives us energy, and allows you to see in their true magnitude all the problems we have,” the president described this visit that is taking place - the Head of State underlined to the general secretary of the WCC. at a time of complexity for the Caribbean country.
"Here we are. With a tightened blockade, but here we are,” highlighted the Cuban President, who also explained to the visitor: “And now, in the middle of a National Assembly that began today, where we are also going to discuss possible solutions to this situation. "They are not magical solutions - they all have complexity, they have risk - but it is a path that we have to travel in order to correct distortions and problems."
The dignitary reflected that such a path should be undertaken “on the basis that the main impact on our problems is the blockade.” It is a cause, he said, that “we cannot remove because it does not depend on us,” and despite which “we must work on other things.”
For his part, the Reverend Dr. Jerry Pillay thanked the president; and he stated: “It is a joy and a privilege to be here with you today. “This is my second visit to Cuba, and once again we have been treated wonderfully.”
The religious leader commented that this is the first time that he has arrived in the Caribbean nation as general secretary of the WCC. “Thank you very much,” he said, “for recognizing the role we have been playing in the support we have given to Cuba in all its struggles.” And then he emphasized: “It gives me great joy to know that the WCC, during all these years, has always been next to Cuba, in support of its struggles.”
The Reverend talked about how explicit they have been. He said it “in terms of our position against the blockade. And not only have we been against the blockade: we have also opposed the inclusion of Cuba on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.”
“Coming here to Cuba and experiencing what we have been experiencing confirms for us once again what we believe in, and what we do not believe in,” the religious leader stressed to his host, who took advantage of the meeting to assess - in the allusive to the Cuban reality: “I wanted to thank you mainly for the freedom of religion that exists in this country.”
Accompanying President Díaz-Canel in the meeting marked by cordiality and respect, also present at noon were the member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and head of its Ideological Department, Rogelio Polanco Fuentes; as well as Caridad Diego Bello, Head of the Office of Attention to Religious Affairs, of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.
Presidency of Cuba/Permanent Mission of Cuba to UN