Díaz-Canel speaks at the closing of the 24th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties in Havana

All images via Estudios Revolución

By Leticia Martínez Hernández, translated from the Spanish

"In the face of the imperialist offensive and the structural crisis of capitalism, the communist and workers' parties are called upon to play a vanguard role." The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, shared these thoughts during the closing of the 24th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties on Saturday in Havana, attended by over a hundred delegates from 48 political organizations.

At the Havana Convention Center, where the event kicked off this Friday, he noted that "it is necessary to strengthen the unity of the international communist movement, respecting the diversity of experiences, but with strategic clarity in the face of the common enemy: imperialism, fascism and monopoly capital."

He called for "deepening political and ideological work, countering cultural hegemony and confronting the machinery of disinformation that seeks to present capitalism as the only possible future."

Díaz-Canel called for "organizing the working class and popular sectors in the new realities of work, where digitalization, automation and the platform economy change the forms of exploitation, but not its essence."

May this meeting in Havana, in Fidel's homeland, he stressed, "serve to renew our commitment, coordinate actions and strengthen the conviction that the organized working class, guided by its vanguard parties, can change history."

The moment demands more than declarations of principles, the president stated. "It requires a qualitative leap in our international articulation and coordination. The communist and workers' parties have the historical duty to weave a network of effective solidarity, which is not limited to communiqués, but is translated into actions"

He spoke of "breaking the fascist media siege, using the platforms to spread the truth about Cuba, Palestine, and all peoples facing aggression"; and of standing with the Cuban people in their just struggle for the lifting of the criminal blockade against the country by mobilizing in parliaments, unions and social movements.

He also called for strengthening the mechanisms of economic and technological cooperation between countries and organizations; as well as the need "to advance in the theoretical debate on twenty-first century socialism, adapting Marxist and Leninist principles to the new conditions of the digital revolution, communication and the ecological crisis, without ever renouncing the central objective: the full dignity of all humanity".

It is not enough to condemn the empire, the Cuban President stressed; "We must build popular power at the grassroots, win the streets, the neighborhoods, the factories, the schools." Communist unity must be strong, yet as adaptable as Fidel's ability to engage in dialogue with all progressive sectors. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity; it’s the shared determination to fight and win together, he said.

THE FACES OF GENOCIDE

At the closing, attended by members of the Political Bureau, including Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee, and Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President spoke about the challenging situation Cuba is facing.

He denounced the fact that the total suffocation they face amounts to collective punishment, aiming to sap human energy, spread disillusionment, and fracture society by depriving people of the most basic resources and services needed to survive, all with the goal of dismantling the Cuban socialist project.

"They cannot be called less than criminals and fascists, those who sadistically devise an energy siege against an entire nation, leaving a humanitarian toll of alarming proportions that deprives Cuban children of life at birth, that reduces the life expectancy of cancer patients, that denies our people access to medicines, food, electricity, water, transportation, and many other resources needed for a full life," he reiterated.

Díaz-Canel shared information on the effects of the blockade on Cuban society: in the energy sector, 1,400 MW of power were not generated due to fuel shortages; in the health sector, 98,500 patients are on the surgical waiting list, including 12,000 children; 34,000 pregnant women lack sufficient prenatal ultrasounds; 67,000 children under 1 year old do not have an updated immunization schedule; 117,000 adults and 1,200 children with cancer are without adequate treatment; only 30% of the Basic Schedule of Medicines is available; and there is an inability to purchase cobalt 60 sources for cancer treatments, among other issues.

"From this carefully orchestrated genocide, whenever a hint of relief appears or is sought, the enforcers of that shameful policy will be there to tighten the noose just a little more, if possible."

We are living in the most dangerous time since the October Crisis, the Head of State said in his speech.

"Along with the economic war, Cuba is being subjected to a high-intensity unconventional war through digital subversion, the financing of internal mercenaries, media smear campaigns, and influence networks that seek to dress up what is shameless intervention as humanitarian aid."

At this meeting, he said, "we denounced the criminal policy of the United States against Cuba and also those who remain silent and tolerate the excesses of the emboldened U.S. fascist ultra-right, which lies, steals, kills and pretends to set itself up as a God governing all destinies."

The U.S. blockade only works because of the complicity of those who fear Washington's power more than the judgment of history. "The world cannot become complicit in another genocide," warned the First Secretary of the Central Committee.

He said that the extermination of Palestinians in Gaza, the assault on Venezuela, and the collective punishment of the Cuban people are serious events before which the world cannot remain on the sidelines.

"Tomorrow any nation can end up being Gaza or Cuba if it does not stand up to fascism. The key is in the peoples, in their awareness, in their mobilization and in their international unity."

"In the face of this asphyxiation, Cuba has not given up," said the president, and "we have solutions that prove it: vaccines against COVID, food production with agroecological techniques in the midst of scarcity, advances in clean energy, popular participation in the neighborhoods, and the defense of the entire territory by a people organized into militias and willing to defend their self-determination, independence and sovereignty."

Díaz-Canel emphasized that, guided by the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba, the people's response has been one of steadfast and innovative resistance, unity, the protection of their achievements, and the modernization of their economic and social model, all while steadfastly adhering to socialist principles and resisting pressure or coercion.

THE PATH FORWARD IS SOCIALISM

"Cuba follows this idea on the uncharted path of building socialism, as Army General Raúl Castro once remarked," he continued.

He said that not even the classics of Marxism could have imagined pulling it off on a small island, under threat from the largest empire in human history and completely blockaded, with the state cut off from all sources of resources, financing, and trade.

He explained that, when faced with this dilemma, it’s important to create and generate wealth so it can be fairly redistributed, while also protecting the Revolution’s historical and essential achievements in key areas like health, education, culture, science, energy, and communications.

"Doing so will be everyone's task, that of state and non-state enterprises, along with other forms of management of the economy that together make up the Cuban business network, all focused on a single purpose: to build prosperous and sustainable socialism."

On the economic and social transformations underway, Díaz-Canel emphasized key concepts: "it is a process to boost the economy, not to establish capitalism; there will be no mass privatization, the fundamental means of production remain in the hands of the people, and sovereignty and independence are preserved."

For such a complex process, he clarified, "The Communist Party, as the foremost guiding force of the State and society, holds primary responsibility for its direction, coordination, and oversight."

He said the Party will remain a zealous defender of the people's interests, the working class, all the social achievements, and the social justice that have driven the Revolution since it began.

"It is not, nor will it be a party of elites, nor of lobbyists. As the sole party, it is tasked with becoming more democratic and representative, just as Raúl has urged us to do on many occasions, without ever losing its compass in the people, the Revolution and socialism."

In a world where they try to convince us that "there are no alternatives", the President emphasized that our shared goal is to prove with facts that socialism remains the only practical and humane escape from capitalist barbarism.

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