Comrade Esteban Lazo Hernández, Chairman of the National Assembly of the People's Power,
Comrade Salvador Valdés Mesa, First Deputy Chairman of the Councils of State and of Ministers.
Comrade Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Comrade José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, Member of the Secretariat and Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party,
Comrade Rubén Remigio Ferro, Chairman of the People's Supreme Court,
Distinguished Heads of African Missions accredited in Cuba,
Other representatives of the central government agencies and institutions,
Distinguished guests,
Comrades,
For all of us in Cuba, celebrating Africa Day is an especially important event. On 25th May we commemorate the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963 and that of the subsequent African Union in 2001, thereby maintaining the principles underlying the continent's unity.
Fraternal links with Africa are part and parcel of our history, based on deep cultural roots derived from the heinous enslavement of over a million human beings, torn from their natural environment in Africa.
The celebration of this 55th anniversary provides an opportunity to renew our commitment to the African continent, and in this context I should like to reiterate a sentiment expressed by Cuba's First Vice President, Salvador Valdés Mesa, during his recent meeting with the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Thomas Kwesi Quartey; I quote: "In the midst of all the difficulties, we must not lose our spirit of solidarity, above all with Africa”.
2018 is a special year in that it also marks the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, who once said, and I quote “We stand at the dawn of an African century, a century where Africa will take its rightful place among the nations of the world”. To his memory, also, we offer our deepest homage.
Also this year, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the victory at Cuito-Cuanavale, a milestone in Africa's political life, and the 40th anniversary of the Cassinga massacre, in which hundreds of our Namibian brothers fell victim to hatred and racism.
Today, Africa is a key actor in international affairs. Its 54 member states account for one-third of the UN General Assembly and half in other forums for international negotiation, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 + China. Such considerations underscore the legitimacy of its aspiration to take a permanent seat on the Security Council.
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Comrades,
The bilateral relations between Cuba and the African countries continue to grow closer and to diversify. We have bilateral cooperation projects under way in practically the totality of the African countries.
With pride we record that, in the same way as we took up arms with our African brothers to help defend African independence and sovereignty, there are now over 5,000 Cuban co-workers rendering service on the African continent, in sectors including health, education, construction, sport and agriculture, while there are nearly 9,000 African students following courses in our country's seats of learning; all of which underscores the readiness of the Cuban government and people to turn into practical reality the legacy of Commander-In-Chief Fidel Castro in his conception of revolution, when he said:
“Revolution is … fighting for our dreams of justice for Cuba and for the world, which is the foundation of our patriotism, our socialism and our internationalism". Unquote.
The African continent is currently embroiled in the implementation of Agenda 2063, approved by the African Union, and in the revival of the concepts of pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance, through the introduction of far-reaching socioeconomic programs, on which Cuba has offered its unconditional support.
Brothers,
In the words of Gen. Raúl Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party:
“Cuba, which carries African blood in its veins, rose up in the struggle for independence and the abolition of slavery and, subsequently, has had the privilege of fighting and building alongside the African nations”.
We cannot end without acknowledging the unanimous support of the governments, leaders, organizations and peoples of Africa in the struggle against the US embargo on Cuba, including the vote in favour of ending this policy by the African Union and by the UN General Assembly.
We wish to thank the African governments and leaders, political organizations and general public for their expressions of friendship in the numerous messages of congratulation received on the election of Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel as Chairman of the Councils of State and of Ministers.
In conclusion, I reiterate that Cuba's relations with Africa are indestructible and that, loyal and faithful to our history, we shall continue to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and solidarity, to the benefit of our peoples.
Long live the brotherhood between Africa y Cuba!. Many thanks.