SANTIAGO DE CUBA.— Leonel Fernández, former President of the Dominican Republic says that his presence in this city is a testament to the friendship shared by the Dominican people and the Dominican Liberation Party with Cuba.
He says that Martí and Gómez are the best demonstrations of the ties between the two countries.
And that his people have a great desire to see Cuban society continue to advance, to see every Cuban continue to feel tremendously proud of their homeland.
I then ask about Fidel.
"I met him 20 years ago, in the context of the Sixth Ibero-American Summit. On that occasion, they transported us from Santiago de Chile to Viña del Mar on a bus. And I was given the seat next to Fidel. It was a three-hour trip during which I had the privilege of holding a wide-ranging conversation with him.
"What I discovered firsthand was a person with insatiable curiosity. He wanted to know everything. He spoke, interrogating. He asked questions about things I had never thought about, things like: what is the total amount of pork produced in your country, or units of chicken production. And I said, look, President, I don't know, I have no idea. Because I had never considered any of these issues, right? He was an intellectual challenge for absolutely any person.
"Of course, studying his trajectory, you discover one singularity in his leadership: for him, the word adversity did not exist. He converted adversity into victory. And this was very much related to the strength of his convictions. His were very deeply rooted, profound convictions. These beliefs seemed to take him to the very limits of audacity. The Granma landing was an audacious act; it was something that put his life at risk. And he was someone who didn't fear danger in pursuing an ideal.
"On the other hand, his talent, his intelligence, his preparation, his culture stand out. He was a magnificent orator, a master of the word, a pedagogue.
"All of these characteristics come together in a person who became not only a leader, but the emotional guide of his country. And this was Fidel. And this is why he is a reference for all of us who have held responsibilities at some point in our respective countries. Never in his dimensions, never with his stature, always modestly.
"But these attributes of his must be developed. You must have a passion for knowledge; have a passion for ideas; you must develop convictions based on your beliefs; you must feel a commitment to people. And have a sense of history. Fidel, of course, referred to history in all his actions. But he also had a vision of the future. You need to know where you are going.
"Therefore, for my generation, for me personally, Fidel is a frame of reference as to how to exercise leadership with a sense of responsibility."
How much of Fidel is there in Leonel Fernández?
He is always present as a reference model, although ours were different historical moments. In my era, the struggle for democracy had already been consolidated. I come from a humble family, and to be President of the Republic on three occasions meant that in my country there was a system which allowed this to be possible. And this system was preceded by many struggles and bloodshed…
"But Fidel was born in an era in which there was no democracy possible. That is why he took the path of revolution.
"I look upon Fidel with respect, with admiration, with a sense of pride for having a Latin American compatriot of his universal stature. That is why the news of his death saddened me. Me and the entire Dominican people. Because even though you could see his age advancing, you never thought Fidel was going to die.
"Nor is it a chapter of history that has ended, because we have lived all of the methodology constructed around the Moncada, around Girón… we lived all his speeches, which were fabulous. So we learned a great deal about his methodology, his way of understanding, his way of interpreting, of putting things in context.
"Fidel was a master of politics. And a great military strategist. A visionary who understood geo-politics and knew how to function in this context. He additionally made very valuable contributions to the understanding of the reality of our peoples of Latin America.
"Fidel gave a sense of dignity to the Cuban people. And one of respect. It is not a rich society; it is a society that has its limitations. But, despite this, it has a sense of dignity that places it above material issues.
"Fidel also took solidarity to an unimaginable level."
"Fidel is an emblematic figure."
"Fidel is one of us."
"Fidel must be studied."
