TO THE 8TH CONGRESS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CUBA
Dear Comrades,
On the occasion of the 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba the Central Committee of AKEL- Cyprus (the Progressive Party of the Working People), addresses to the leadership, membership and participants as well as to the Cuban people, fraternal and solidarity greetings.
Your 8th Congress has been meeting at a milestone, bringing together the history of heroic struggles to free Cuba from dictatorship, oppression and exploitation of the working class, foreign dominance and interventions, and the struggles to build and defend an independent and sovereign state where the Cuban people would live in dignity and develop on the socialist path it has chosen. The victory in Playa Giron 60 years ago, consolidated the victory of the Revolution and raised even further the admiration to and solidarity of the peoples of the world with the Cuban people. The steadfastness to principles alongside with selfless solidarity exhibited by Cuba towards peoples in struggle remain an inspiration.
The challenges have been immense primarily due to the aggressive and interventionist policies pursued and financed by successive US administrations against Cuba, coupled with the intensifying illegal and criminal US economic, financial and commercial blockade. AKEL denounces in the strongest way the US policies against Cuba that constitute a flagrant violation of International Law. It pledges to intensify the battle waged together with world progressive forces to put an end to the criminal blockade.
The fact that against all odds Cuba is a respected member of the international community, enjoying extensive bilateral and multilateral relations and extensive cooperation not just in Latin America and the Caribbean but the world over, proves in itself the importance of the decision taken after Playa Giron to choose the socialist path of development. Having the human being at its centre and under the dedicated guidance of Comandante Fidel, the leaders of the Revolution and the Communist Party, and despite the difficulties, Cuba justly prides today of achievements on a world level. The development of a number of vaccines and medicines to fight COVID-19, and this under adverse conditions caused by the blockade, and the Henry Reeve brigade, show how science and knowledge is a weapon of solidarity in the service of people and not of profits for monopolies.
The role of your Communist Party has been central in the decades of struggle and building of the Cuba envisaged by its people. We are confident that the 8th Congress of the CPC and its resolutions will serve to enhance the development of the Party and country in these challenging times.
On this occasion, we could not but express our deep gratitude for the consistent principled position and solidarity of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Cuban Government with the struggle to reunify Cyprus under a bizonal bicommunal federation.
Dear Comrades,
Warm congratulations and we look forward to deepening our fraternal long-standing bilateral relations.
Comradely greetings,
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF AKEL