65 yrs of revolution, Cuban people steadfast in defending it: Official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
9 Jan 2024 09:25
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The First Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba says that the Revolution reaching its 65th year is indicative of its sustainability and the steadfastness of the Cuban people.

Veterans of the 1959 Cuban Revolution attend a ceremony on the 65th anniversary of the arrival of Fidel Castro to the capital as head of the Revolutionary Army in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 (AP)

Cuba commemorated the 65th anniversary of the historic ingress of the Cuban revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, and the Freedom Caravan into Havana.

During the ceremonial celebrations in Havana, attended by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Luis Antonio Torres, the First Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, recalled the events of January 8, 1959.

On that day, Fidel Castro addressed the Cuban masses, promising the onset of a new era in revolutionary Cuba filled with events, challenges, and threats.

Mirroring the words of the late Cuban leader, the First Secretary stated that the year 2023 was a challenging year for the Caribbean state. He added that the Revolution reaching its 65th year is indicative of the revolution's sustainability and the steadfastness of the Cuban people and their determination to defend it.

🗣️| Al #Fidel victorioso que continúa guiando al pueblo cubano, rindió homenaje en las palabras centrales del acto Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, miembro del Comité Central del Partido y primer secretario de la organización en la provincia de La Habana.#Cuba 🇨🇺 pic.twitter.com/nNeOc8r6W8
— Presidencia Cuba 🇨🇺 (@PresidenciaCuba) January 8, 2024

He emphasized that Cuba faces serious economic due to the ongoing US blockade for more than 60 years. Torres underscored the importance of focusing on economic development, proliferating productive forces, and implementing new paradigms to confront pressing challenges and achieve prosperity for the population.

US' hostility main cause of our economy's difficulties

On January 8, 1959, the revolutionary army led by the late leader Fidel Castro and his comrades, arrived in Havana from the province of Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of the Cuban revolution: covering thousands of kilometers.

The revolutionary army was warmly welcomed in the capital by locals after overthrowing the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and declaring the victory of the Cuban Revolution.

On January 1, Raul Castro Ruz and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel led a commemorative ceremony in Santiago de Cuba marking the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The event paid tribute to Fidel Castro.

Raul Castro acknowledged the challenges faced in reaching the 65th anniversary, citing the aggressive and adversarial actions of the US.

Castro asserted, "The policy of permanent hostility and blockade of the US Government is the main cause of the difficulties of our economy," stressing Washington's continued efforts to conceal that reality.

Highlighting the Revolution's 65-year journey, Castro emphasized the leadership's transparency and self-critical spirit, and also spoke of Cuba's innovative approaches to overcome external aggressions, natural disasters, and "our own mistakes".