With the presence of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Councils of State and Ministers, as well as the Five Cuban anti-terrorists, the first working session of the 10th Congress of the Cuban Young Communist League (UJC) began.
Following the screening of audiovisual material on the role of the UJC in the struggle for the liberation of the Five, delegates took to the floor to express thanks for the presence of both Raúl and the Five Heroes.
Five “pioneros” (schoolchildren, members of the José Martí Pioneer Organization) are among those who were invited as guests to the Congress. Among them, sixth-grader Laura Castillo, of the Pepito Mendoza School in Camagüey, said that “the example of Gerardo, Antonio, Ramón, René and Fernando is similar to that of Martí, Fidel, Raúl, Camilo and Che.”
The 10th Congress recognized those who took part in the attack on the Moncada Barracks and the Granma expedition, including Army General Raúl Castro Ruz; as well as the Five Cuban heroes for their contribution to the revolutionary cause.
José Ramón Machado Ventura, second secretary of the Party Central Committee, awarded the Flag of Honor - the highest recognition granted by the National Bureau of the UJC to outstanding collectives - to the La Baría de Pinar del Río sawmill and the Josué País School in Camaguey.
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, member of the Party Political Bureau and first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers, presented the Abel Santamaria medal to six young workers, who demonstrated their values in the defense of the homeland.
Likewise Homero Acosta, secretary of the Council of State, recognized three students for their endeavors and research with the José Antonio Echeverría medal.
THE FIVE WILL NEVER TIRE OF SAYING THANKS
The welcome for the Five Cuban anti-terrorist heroes at the 10th Congress of the UJC, was permeated with applause and cheers from the delegates, to whom they responded with thanks and timely advice regarding the priorities for this young generation of Cubans.
Ramón Labañino sent an embrace to Fidel Castro, historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, and stated that there was no better way to celebrate his seven months back in the homeland, than to be accompanied by a youth full of optimism and energy.
“I want to give eternal thanks for every idea, action, march and daily effort. The Five will never tire of saying thanks,” he insisted.
“Our main appeal to the Cuban youth is to be alert to the new challenges ahead,” Ramón said, noting the need to prepare for the struggle in the areas of communication and intelligence: “This is our fight in these times.”
Antonio Guerrero added that on leaving this Congress, those attending must endeavor to transmit the spirit of everything that happened, not just through words but by example. “Today the challenges are immense ... and we have to get up every morning and ask ourselves, where is our duty: that is what the Revolution asks of us.”
While praising the Cuban youth, he added, “We can not forget our history. The greatest hero of the Revolution is he who rises up in the midst of difficulties every day to fulfill his duty.”
Meanwhile Gerardo Hernández acknowledged the role of those who participated in the Moncada attack and Granma expedition, saying “all we did was follow that example of sacrifice that they gave us.”
He stressed: “We feel huge pride that history demonstrates that us Cuban revolutionaries were on the right side,” and added that, “We're going to have diplomatic relations with the United States without having ceded a single iota of our principles. History shows that by staying true to our values, victory arrives.”
