Note published by Norway-Cuba Friendship Association in its Facebook profile:
Today we proudly mark ourselves as one of Norway's oldest solidarity organizations!
On Friday (19 April), the Norway-Cuba Friendship Association celebrated its 60th anniversary in Oslo.
During 60 years, we have maintained our solidarity commitment, work and community with Cuba. Our primary purposes have always been to focus as much attention as possible on Cuba, to contribute with correct information on the situation in the country and, the most important of all, to gather as much support as possible to demand the lifting of the USA's criminal blockade against Cuba.
But the US desperately continues to maintain its now 60-year-old aggression and boycott of the country despite the fact that almost all of the UN's 193 member states vote in favor of lifting the blockade. Cuba has the whole world's support!
The evening was characterized by a good and festive atmosphere!
The leader of the Association Cihan Karakoc, opened the event and welcomed everyone.
The speaker then went to the evening's guest of honour, Ingeborg Breines, author and peace activist with a long career in UNESCO. Breines has also recently published the book "Peace culture - utopia or security policy alternative?" She raised the current situation and compared it to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when the world almost ended up in a nuclear war. "Today, Europe is characterized by nuclear weapons and American military bases - Russia expresses fear for its own security. With all these nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors and nuclear waste repositories, the situation is extremely dangerous. We must prioritize peace above everything else - even above being right - and we must intensify our work to gain understanding that we must get rid of the nuclear weapons before they get rid of us. Where are the politicians with the caliber needed?”, she pointed out.
Cuba's ambassador to Norway, Maité Rivero Torres, delivered a speech on behalf of the Embassy and also read out a congratulatory letter from ICAP (Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples).
Representatives from LO, the Chilean Committee for Justice, the Communist Party of Norway, the Communist Party of Chile in Norway, each gave their speech conveying congratulations and greetings. Berit Moen, board member of the Association, conveyed a greeting from the Swedish-Cuban Association.
Olaf Svorstøl Sierraalta, who has been involved in the Association all these years and met its founders, also gave a short speech to the audience.
Ane Hoel, another member of the Board and editor of Cuba Nytt magazine, gave a gripping and detailed presentation of the Association's origins and history.
The night was characterized by a good atmosphere, musical numbers and exquisite dishes.
We at the Norway-Cuba Friendship Association thank all our members and friends for having been with us so far during all these 60 years!
Join our solidarity with Cuba!