Dear friends,
I am very pleased to welcome you at the Home of Cuba in New York on the occasion of celebrating our National Day and the 60th Anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution.
On January 1, 1959, a momentous change took place in the history of my country. With the victory of the people’s army led by Fidel Castro, the Historical Leader of the Cuban Revolution, almost 100 years of struggle of my people to achieve their true independence came to an end.
From that historic moment until today, the Cuban people have engaged in a hard battle to build a society with all and for the good of all. That was the dream of the Apostle of the Cuban Independence and National Hero José Martí, whose 166th birth anniversary we commemorated yesterday.
It has not been easy for Cubans to get here. The story is well known. But as a free people and with the wise guidance of our leaders, we are wholeheartedly building a country where the achievement of the greatest possible social justice is the major premise.
Therefore today, after 60 years of that momentous victory, we thank all those in the world who believed in us and stood in solidarity with us. We also extend our grateful embrace to those who share their support with us today.
In this context, one of the cornerstones of Cuban foreign policy has been to practice solidarity and internationalism with the peoples that need it. Countless cooperation actions have been carried out in a large number of developing countries, which began almost in the very year of the triumph of the Revolution. This was the way to express in practice the thought of our National Hero when he said "Homeland is humanity", and to settle a historical debt with the peoples who contributed to forge our Nation.
60 years after the beginning of this new stage of Cuban history, we are proud for having today an independent foreign policy based on such noble principles as strict respect for international law, self-determination and the sovereignty of States, in favor of the rights of peoples, peace, justice and solidarity with the best causes of humanity.
Dear friends,
This year in Cuba a new Constitution will be submitted to popular referendum, the text of which was consulted in a public, broad and transparent manner with millions of our citizens in recent months. This is a clear and tangible reflection of the democratic and participatory character of our political process, in which the main issues defining the life of the Nation involve the contribution of all Cubans.
May this celebration serve to renew the commitment of Cuba and this diplomatic mission to continue working on the basis of the historical principles of its foreign policy, promoting respect for sovereign equality and peaceful relations among all States, as well as friendship and cooperation among them, in strict observance of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
At the same time, I reiterate the strong willingness of the Cuban people, alongside with our President, to build an increasingly socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable society.
Dear friends,
As you all know, my diplomatic mission at this headquarters is coming to an end after two years of intensive work. Within a few days, I will travel to Cuba to occupy the honorable position of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. I return to my homeland with the satisfaction of having worked with an excellent team of Cuban diplomats, most of them young, and I also leave very grateful for having had colleagues and friends like you.
Thank you very much