Mrs President:
We are gathering today in tribute to a prominent figure of the 20th century: Nelson Mandela, a universal symbol of the struggle for human dignity, equality, reconciliation, and justice. For 27 years, he endured incarceration without relinquishing his principles. Upon his release from prison, he did not seek revenge, but rather the building of a South Africa free from apartheid and grounded in equal rights for all its citizens. His legacy extends beyond African borders and continues to inspire those who defend the self-determination of peoples, peace, and respect for international law.
For Cuba, Mandela holds a profound and special significance. Between the Cuban and South African peoples, ties of solidarity, internationalism, and mutual sacrifice were forged. Thousands of Cuban combatants and cooperants contributed alongside African peoples to the defeat of the South African racist regime and to the preservation of Angola's independence.
Nelson Mandela himself recognized that contribution with words of enduring relevance. During his visit to Cuba in 1991, he affirmed: "The Cuban people hold a special place in the hearts of the people of Africa." He further appreciated that Cuba went to Africa not looking for wealth or resources, but driven by principles of solidarity and justice.
The admiration of the Cubans toward Nelson Mandela has always been genuine. The message expressed by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro still echoes: “Glory to you, Nelson, who defended human dignity throughout 25 years of solitary confinement! Slander and hatred were no match for the steel of your resistance. You knew how to stand firm, and—without knowing it or seeking it—you became a symbol of humanity’s noblest qualities. You will live on in the memory of future generations, and with you, the Cubans who fell defending the freedom of their brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.”
Today we remember a man of integrity, whom the empire tried in vain to tarnish by keeping him on spurious lists of individuals linked to terrorism and repeatedly denying him a visa to enter this country. They did not succeed. A giant cannot be silenced. Mandela will always be remembered as a universal symbol of peace, unity, and the struggle of the peoples.
Truly honoring Mandela’s legacy requires much more than simply commemorating him. It demands that we follow his example. It demands that we combat all contemporary forms of racism, colonialism, foreign occupation, discrimination, and unilateral economic coercion; defend the sovereign equality of States; and promote an international order based on solidarity, cooperation, and respect for international law.
Cuba today reaffirms its commitment to these principles and to Nelson Mandela’s vision of a more just world, where human dignity, equality, and peace for all peoples prevail. Eternal glory, dear Madiba.
Thank you very much.