"We know what it means to visit Cuba in these times," the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, told members of the delegation from the International Peoples' Assembly (IPA) on Tuesday afternoon. The delegation has been carrying out a program on the island since last Sunday, motivated by cooperation and solidarity.
From the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, the Head of State affirmed to the visiting friends - who had already been to the Latin American School of Medicine, the Fidel Castro Center, the Martin Luther King Center, and other places and meetings - that they, and the largest of the Antilles, are inspired by the common goal of the anti-capitalist and anti-colonial struggle.
The purpose of this, the dignitary said, is to confront, through coordinated actions, the ideological, cultural, and media war waged by the United States government, which is an expression of its hegemonic ambitions and is made explicit through the use of "force to crush multilateralism, to crush the rights of peoples."
Addressing João Pedro Stedile—of the national leadership of the Landless Workers Movement (MST) of Brazil—Brian Becker and Manolo de los Santos—of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) of the United States—and other brothers and sisters from Africa, Europe, and Latin America, Díaz-Canel Bermúdez stated: "We expected nothing less from you as representatives of the International Peoples’ Assembly."
The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba remarked to his interlocutors: "We feel very motivated and enthusiastic, and also supported by your presence here."
For his part, Joao Pedro Stedile emphasized to the dignitary: "Here we are, as a family, and we are very happy to be here; we thank you for your generosity in receiving us; we know of the many responsibilities you have at this moment in Cuba’s history; and we are here to give you a hug."
The friend also stressed: "We will be with you for whatever you need, even though we are geographically very far apart," and spoke of projects being undertaken to deliver the aid.
It was an exchange marked by affinity, which also included the presence of the Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Roberto Morales Ojeda, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla—both members of the Political Bureau. Also present were the member of the Central Committee and head of its Department of International Relations, Emilio Lozada García; and the President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Fernando González Llort.
As part of Tuesday afternoon's events, an Exchange and Cooperation Agreement was signed—at the same venue where the fraternal meeting took place—between the Communist Party of Cuba and the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) of Brazil. The document, which strengthens mutual relations, was signed by Emilio Lozada on behalf of Cuba and João Pedro Stedile on behalf of Brazil.
