Dear comrade Vladimir Vladímirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation;
Dear Russian friends:
It is a great honor for me to participate in the inauguration of the monument to the Historical Leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.
First of all, I would like to thank the presence at this solemn ceremony of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, who was able to meet with Fidel and talk for long hours when he visited Cuba in December 2000 and then in July 2014.
I also thank the members of the Russian Geographical Society, the Moscow City Duma and especially sculptor Alexei Chebanenko for conceiving this noble initiative.
Dear friends:
The figure of the Commander-in-Chief is intimately linked to the friendship that has been forged between our two peoples and governments for more than 60 years.
Fidel understood very well the bonds of fraternity that have united both nations; he always had cordial relations with the Soviet and Russian leaders; he knew and admired Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova, two of the great Russian cosmonauts. He admired the greatness of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War, their humanism and capacity for sacrifice to save humanity from fascism.
He visited the Soviet Union for the first time in 1963, and toured its most important cities for more than 40 days, among them Leningrad, which he always revered for its epic resistance for more than 900 days against the blockade of the fascist troops.
That historic visit solidified the passion of our historic leader for this brotherly country and the budding friendship between the two peoples that lasts to this day. He visited the Soviet Union many times after that, the last time in November 1987, to participate in the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.
Until his last days, he was particularly attentive to the events of this great nation, he followed every event, and every piece of news related to Russia and attached special importance to its role in world politics.
Which is why this monument is also a tribute to the friendship between Russia and Cuba that is forged on very solid foundations.
Dear friends, comrades:
I would like to recall with deep gratitude the beautiful words written on behalf of the Russian people by President Vladimir Putin on the passing of Fidel six years ago: "Fidel Castro was a sincere friend on whom Russia could rely. He made a huge contribution to the formation and development of Russian-Cuban relations, to close strategic cooperation in all fields".
Today before you we ratify that the new generation of Cubans that has been gradually and orderly occupying state and governmental functions in the country is faithfully committed to the continuity of the ties of friendship and solidarity with the Russian Federation. I can convey to you, on behalf of the Cuban people and government, our loyalty to the legacy of Fidel and Raul to the friendship that for many years they built with the Soviet Union and later with the Russian Federation.
The ties between Russia and Cuba are indestructible: Fidel laid their foundations, Raul built on them and we will continue their work. Russia knows it can continue to count on Cuba.
Eternal glory to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz!
Thank you very much (Prolonged applause).
Translated by ESTI
