Dear sisters and brothers in struggle:
Today, we are celebrating a date of momentous significance in the history of Cuba, July 26, known as Día de la Rebeldía Nacional (Day of the National Rebelliousness). Sixty-six years ago our motherland experienced one of the most heroic events in its struggle for its final independence, the Attack on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Barracks, under the leadership of our invincible Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.
The main objective of this action was to begin the transformation of the political, economic and social regime existing in Cuba at that time, and to put an end to the foreign domination, misery, unemployment, unhealthiness and illiteracy that our people suffered.
The date evokes in us a mixture of emotions, feelings and ideas, where the pride of being sons and daughters of Cuba comes together with the eternal commitment to Fidel and to all those who offered their lives so that the name of Cuba will always be associated with freedom, justice and dignity. As our president, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bemúdez, has stated, "we are continuity!
We, Cubans, arrive at the celebration of this day, immersed in and committed to the improvement of our Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development. Recently, the reform of the Constitution of the Republic was approved, a process that was characterized by the broad participation of all the people, more than 9 million, as a result of the people´s contribution, the project underwent modifications in almost 60% of its articles.
Ninety point fifteen percent of the convened voters participated, and the support was shown by the 86.85 % of those voters. Cuba demonstrated, once again, that from democratic mechanisms based on the right to self-determination, it is possible to consolidate its socialist system as a viable alternative at a time of escalation in the aggressiveness of imperialism that attempts to discredit progressive options for social development. The new text will allow us to advance more rapidly towards the goals we have set for ourselves.
The political foundations of the socialist and revolutionary State remain unchanged and are incorporated into their fundamental objectives, the promotion of a sustainable development that ensures individual and collective prosperity, working to achieve higher levels of equity and social justice, as well as preserving and considerably enhancing the achievements of the Revolution.
Today, we have a Parliament that represents all sectors of the country, 87.8% of the 605 members of parliament were born after January 1, 1959. 53.22% are women, the highest percentage attained in Cuba and second in the world, and the representation of blacks and mestizos reached 40.49%.
Similarly, our country continues to promote its solidarity and internationalist principles with all the peoples around the world. In like manner, we thank all the movements of solidarity with our country, which along these years have been an invaluable force in the struggle for the total and unconditional lifting of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States, for denouncing the media manipulation against the Cuban Revolution, the demonization of the leaders elected by our people and the silence on the social achievements and examples of international solidarity that Cuba offers the world.
We specially thank the friendship associations and groups in New York and New Jersey.
Dear comrades,
It is regrettable that the new administration of the United States has decided to bring back the old policy of hostility towards Cuba and tighten the economic, commercial and financial blockade.
The Helms-Burton Act is the main political and legal instrument of that American aggressiveness, which violates and infringes the self-determination of the Cuban people and of other peoples, freedom of trade, sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, as well as peaceful coexistence among nations. This law also has a marked extraterritorial application by submitting citizens and institutions of third countries to the jurisdiction of the United States Courts for legitimate actions that occurred outside their territory.
The U.S. government seeks, in this way, to destroy the Cuban Revolution through the economic asphyxiation of our people, the suffering of families, hardship and obstacles to development, but as our President, Miguel Díaz-Canel stated, and I quote: “Cubans do not surrender, nor do we accept laws about our destinies that are outside the Constitution. In Cuba, we Cubans are in command (...) No one will rip away from us, neither by seduction nor by force, the Motherland that our forefathers won on their feet. (End of quote).
The Cuban people are determined to face and withstand the U.S. government's policy of aggression and to continue to advance in its economic and social development plan until 2030.
The Cuban people will continue to defend socialism, because we believe in social justice, in balanced and sustainable development, with a fair distribution of wealth and guarantees of quality services for the whole population; because we practice solidarity and reject selfishness, because we share what we have, not what we have left over; because we repudiate all forms of social discrimination and fight organized crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking and all forms of slavery; because we defend the human rights of all citizens, not those of exclusive and privileged segments; because we believe in the democracy of the people and not in the political and anti-democratic power of capital; because we seek to promote the prosperity of the homeland, in harmony with nature and caring for the sources on which life on the planet depends; and because we are convinced that socialism will lead us to a better world which is really possible.
Comrades,
In the current complex international situation where the ambitions of domination and hegemony emerge, the revolutionaries of the world must remain united.
In the western hemisphere, the Government of the United States has openly declared the validity and implementation of the infamous Monroe Doctrine, the old instrument of colonialism, neocolonialism and imperialism, which questions the right to self-determination, threatens the sovereignty of all the nations of the Americas, without exception, and seeks to intimidate the rest of the world.
In a new display of its imperial policy in the region, the Government of the United States attacks with special rage the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which continues to face an escalation of pressures and actions typical of unconventional warfare, attempted coups d'état, harsh economic sanctions and other hostile and illegal acts that affect the well-being of the Venezuelan people.
We reiterate here our staunch support and invariable solidarity with the constitutional president Nicolás Maduro Moros, with the Bolivarian and Chavist Revolution, and with the civilian-military union of its people. In the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the future of the right to sovereignty of our peoples is being decided today. Venezuela needs our Solidarity!.
Sisters and Brothers:
I would not wish to conclude without paying well-deserved tribute to those who have fallen over centuries of redemptive deeds. Also to Fidel, the eternal Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution who, with his stoic optimism and together with the people, led us to victory, and placed our small island as a stronghold of social justice and respect for human dignity.
To the new generations of Cubans who will continue to defend forever the revolutionary ideals, together with the same people of the Moncada, the Bay of Pigs and the internationalism, with a high revolutionary consciousness, consistent with their glorious history!.
We would also like to thank you, who have been hand in hand with us in an immovable manner under the most complex and difficult circumstances. Several generations of Cubans have witnessed the permanent support that our people has received from you; as they have also witnessed your courage, your solidarity, put to the test a thousand times.
Eternal glory to the martyrs of the Homeland!
Long live the Cuban Revolution!
Long live the Solidarity Movement with Cuba!
Long live free Cuba!
Long live Fidel and Raúl!