A Call for Revolutionary Unity Between Cuba and Venezuela

Speech by Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba in a show of solidarity and support for Venezuela at the III International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of Left Parties and Movement.

Image via the PCC

By Roberto Morales Ojeda, translated from the Spanish

Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic.

Dear Pedro Infante, Vice President of Organization of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and First Vice President of the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Comrades of the leadership of the Party, the State and the Government.

Dear Venezuelan sisters and brothers present here.

Delegates and guests to the III International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of Left Parties and Movements that accompany us.

Citizens:

Bolívar welcomes us, and we stand before him, just as Martí did, because, as Fidel taught us, Bolívar is among the greatest figures in history. With this belief, we wish to reaffirm our commitment to Venezuela.

A few days ago, the launch of a true grassroots movement was announced: a signature collection in support of the Declaration by the Cuban Revolutionary Government, showing unwavering support for the Bolivarian Revolution, its legitimate President, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and its courageous people, who are enduring one of the most notorious campaigns by the empire.

At that moment, brimming with confidence, we affirmed that millions of Cubans would support that commitment. Today, we can proudly announce to the world that the signatures of over 4,300,000 fellow citizens aged 16 and above have turned it into a resounding reality.

Within each signature lies the heartbeat of a resilient people. These are the signatures of Martí's heirs, who proclaimed: "“Let Venezuela give me a way of serving her, she has a son in me."

This tide of proper names and unified wills has vividly demonstrated the call of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. In his insightful reflection on August 5, 2009, titled "Seven Daggers in the Heart of America," he told us that "for Venezuela we would have to give everything," a conviction as valid today as it was on the first day.

If you ask us why Cuba, a small country, besieged and blockaded for more than 60 years, raises its voice so strongly for the Bolivarian Revolution, the answer was given by the eternal Caguairán when he forged a fraternal bond with Commander Chávez: "One brotherly people, one Homeland, Cuba and Venezuela."

We defend Venezuela from this position and through every collaborator involved in the social missions supporting its heroic people.

Joining the Bolivarian people in their struggle reflects the teachings of the Heroic Guerrilla, who passionately expressed as a revolutionary that battling imperialism wherever it exists brings it a duty that heals all wounds.

Comrades:

Bolívar prophesied that the United States seemed destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of freedom. How right he was! Today, the very power he denounced seeks to dominate Bolivarian Venezuela through the use of unilateral coercive measures, subversive tactics, media warfare, and the deployment of warships and aircraft in the Caribbean, blatantly violating International Law and the goals of the Bolivarian Revolution as well as the principles of the UN Charter and the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, adopted by the heads of State and Government at the Second CELAC Summit held in Havana in 2014.

However, the imperialists lack the courage of the valiant people who hold Chávez's fiery declaration close to their hearts: "Socialist Homeland or Death! We will live and we will overcome!" This is the same Chávez who, alongside Fidel, declared that Cuba and Venezuela are advancing on the path of unity, justice, and true independence envisioned by the heroes of our nations.

Faithful to that legacy, our First Secretary of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, has strongly affirmed that "Cuba and Venezuela are one soul." A soul that cannot be divided, sold, or surrendered. Alongside the people, he has emphasized: "In supporting Venezuela, we not only defend its right to self-determination, we defend the dignity of our America."

Comrades in struggle:

From this historic avenue, a symbol of unity for Latin America and the Caribbean, accept these signatures as the most profound and eloquent expression of love that can be extended to a sister nation.

They serve as evidence of the unwavering support for the Bolivarian process under the leadership of President Nicolás Maduro Moros, as well as the commendable collaboration between the popular, military, and police forces in responding to each aggression they encounter.

By dismantling each of its pretexts and enhancing mobilization and readiness, if needed, to counter military aggression and secure victory, this historic moment is bolstering patriotism and solidifying the unity of the people around their revolution.

It affirms a sacred principle: anyone who attacks Venezuela also attacks Cuba. We stand as one united front, a single heart shared by two people.

We are bound by the belief that the Bolivarian Revolution is unstoppable. This conviction was articulated by the Leader of the Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, in a letter to President Nicolás Maduro in August 2017, where he stated:

Certainly, there will be days filled with intense challenges, international pressure, blockades, and limitations. However, these will also be days of creativity and work for revolutionaries and all the Venezuelan people who, as always, will not stand alone. We Cubans will be at the forefront, offering militant solidarity and a deeper commitment to their cause.," end of the quote.

In the books we deliver today, Fidel's signature is present in a symbolic manner. This signature serves as both a beacon and a shield. His legacy, deeply intertwined with that of the unforgettable Commander Chávez and other leaders of the unity and integration of Our America, acts as a guiding compass for every action now more than ever.

To the enemies of peace and sovereignty, we say: You will not be able to defeat the indestructible union of Cuba and Venezuela! You will not be able to overcome the morale and honor of our peoples!

We will stand against falsehoods, traitors, or illegitimate awards, like the now-discredited Nobel Peace Prize or Nobel Prize for War, tainted by political manipulation and disgracefully awarded to someone who has advocated for the empire's military intervention in Venezuela, embodying the utmost hatred for their homeland, subservience to a foreign power, and a genuine insult to those who truly fight for peace.

Neither threats nor notorious exclusions, like those planned for the upcoming Summit of the Americas, will stop our nations from reaching a greater summit: that of dignity, upheld by those who strive for truth. Let us turn the People's Summit into a testament that these are times for respectful and constructive dialogue, for unity and not exclusion.

Comrades

This is also an opportune moment to reaffirm and confirm Cuba's enduring commitment to supporting the just causes of humanity, including the fight against fascism, racism, and the harsh blockades imposed on us by imperialism.

Bolívar and Martí, Fidel and Chávez, left us timeless lessons, including the importance of loyalty to principles. These teachings guide us in this crucial moment for the Great Homeland, urging us to unite in the pursuit of our second and final independence.

Then, as now, we will defend the right to complete sovereignty and independence; to watch our children grow up in a better world that is possible, necessary, and urgent. Alongside Martí, we Cubans call upon the daughters and sons of Bolívar today to take: "a place in the militia of peace."

Long live Fidel!

Long live Chávez!

Long live Cuba!

Long live Venezuela!

Long live the Great Homeland!

Until Victory Always!

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC