Remarks by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (Council of State transcript – GI translation)
Compañero Ivan Ivanovich Melnikov, first vice president of the State Duma and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation;
Compañeras and compañeros:
We have just witnessed an impressive popular May Day march, unequivocal evidence of our people’s support for their revolution and socialism, and rejection of new attacks by U.S. imperialism on Cuba. Similar demonstrations took place across the length and breadth of the nation.
I express profound gratitude to the Presidency of the Communist Party of Russia for the awarding of the Lenin Prize, which I accept not in a personal capacity, but on behalf of our entire people, of Party members, and as a recognition of our Party’s leadership, represented in this activity by eight members of its Political Bureau.
The Lenin Prize granted us is a clear example of the historic relations shared by the peoples of Cuba and the Russian Federation, which have endured in different situations, and are today being strengthened and renewed.
We will never forget the gratitude that Cuban revolutionaries owe the Soviet Union, and especially the heroic Russian people, for their decisive support and permanent solidarity during the difficult first years of our Revolution.
I always recall the words Fidel said to me at a certain moment in our history, last century – so many years have passed since the triumph of the Revolution that we must talk about the last century – he told me the following: Without the help of all kinds that we received from the Soviet Union, it would have been difficult, despite the heroic resistance our people, to emerge victorious in those hard years.
Thank you very much. (Applause)
