Cuban President meets with representatives of Communist and Workers' parties

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic held meetings with representatives of parties from Turkey, Chile, Uruguay and Laos.

Images via Estudios Revolución

By Alina Perera Robbio

“We’re going to resist, and we’re going to win,” said Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, on Saturday afternoon at the Havana Convention Center, as he welcomed Kemal Okuyan, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Türkiye.

The meeting, attended by Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, along with Emilio Lozada García, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee and head of its Department of International Relations, took place during the XXIV International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP), which has brought together many friends of the island.

The Head of State thanked Comrade Kemal Okuyan for the Communist Party of Türkiye’s participation in the event, and also for “being in Cuba, because we know it is an act of daring and courage.”

The dignitary remarked that communist organizations in both Cuba and the Middle Eastern nation share similar perspectives. He went on to reflect on the global imperial offensive, viewing it as a sign of that system’s decadence and decline. Díaz-Canel stated: "We watch with great concern the rise of fascism."

At another point in the conversation, the Cuban President spoke about the current situation in Cuba, raising the imperial aggression and the siege weighing on the island. He also mentioned the policy of maximum pressure, including the energy blockade, through which the U.S. government seeks to bring Cuba to its knees.

The Head of State also talked about the economic and social changes already underway on the island. He noted that building such a humanist society is a big challenge, especially when facing the world’s most powerful imperial power.

The president also spoke about the immense suffering and collective punishment imposed on Cuba by the U.S. government, saying that it’s no longer just about resisting the imperial push, but about doing so creatively, with unity, and with the involvement of all the people.

Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Türkiye, expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and shared his admiration for the courage shown by Cubans in organizing an event that, in his view, has surpassed all their expectations. "We trust that the Cuban people will continue to win, will continue to advance."

The second meeting was held between Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Lautaro Carmona, president of the Communist Party of Chile, along with Bárbara Figueroa, its secretary general. The Head of State expressed his gratitude for their visit to the island, noting that Cubans understand the significance of coming to Cuba today. He also thanked them for the many opportunities to share ideas and experiences, as well as for all their solidarity donations.

Lautaro Carmona said to President Díaz-Canel: "We have made the decision to come out of absolute political conviction." He also spoke about a special motivation: the centennial year of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. Additionally, he shared his belief in the importance of more Chileans embracing Cuba’s cause as their own.

Anti-imperialism cannot be abstract

Fidel often said that crises create great opportunities. This Saturday afternoon, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba reflected on that idea during a conversation at the Palace of Conventions with Oscar Andrade, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Uruguay.

It was the third meeting of the day, where the dignitary expressed gratitude to a friend for being on the island during such a challenging time.

Oscar Andrade pointed out that anti-imperialism can’t just be an abstract stance, since the empire’s cruelty toward the island isn’t abstract either. He urged reflection, because "what is happening to Cuba is also happening to Latin America."

The president mentioned the Monroe Doctrine and what’s been referred to as Trump’s Corollary in relation to the empire’s external policy toward Our America. Andrade, supporting this idea, noted that this imperial policy—this hunger for dominance over the peoples of the continent—includes new elements, but also, in many respects, reflects old patterns.

The Head of State had a fourth meeting with Comrade Bounleua Phandanouvong, Special Envoy of Lao President Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, who also serves as Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, for a friendly exchange of ideas.

Díaz-Canel Bermúdez welcomed the visitor, expressing his pleasure at their presence at the important international event, especially in the year marking the centennial of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. He told his guest that they represent a comrade nation with which Cuba shares a long history of close ties, and he thanked them for the support their country has given to Cuba in its struggle against the imperialist blockade.

Comrade Bounleua Phandanouvong expressed his joy at being on the island and conveyed his confidence that, despite the current challenges, the difficulties can be overcome.

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