26 July, 2007

Speaking in Camaguey, Cuba before more than 100,000 people on Thursday morning, First Vice President Raul Castro called on all Cubans to embark on a daily struggle to overcome mistakes that worsen the objective hardships caused by external factors, especially the US blockade on the country.

The rally marked the 54th anniversary of the July 26, 1953 attacks on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes garrisons by a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro.

Raul Castro said examples of the ways the blockade hurts Cuba abound, and highlighted how the US government impedes Cuban commercial and financial transactions abroad, which are mainly aimed at purchasing foodstuffs, medicines, and products to satisfy the basic needs of the population. He also pointed out the use of coercion and extraterritorial laws to deny Cuba bank services.

The First Vice President also spoke about the nearly insurmountable difficulties that United States citizens and Cuban residents in that country face when seeking to travel to Cuba.

He noted the US refusal to grant visas not only to government officials, but also to artists, athletes, scientists, and anybody else who is not willing to slander the Cuban revolution.

In that light, he also called attention to a recent statement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry denouncing irregularities in the compliance of established migratory agreements regarding the minimum number of visas to be granted yearly by the US to Cubans. He said this policy only encourages illegal immigration of people who are welcomed like heroes, despite the fact that they often risk the lives of children and endanger both Cuban and US citizens.

Raul Castro noted that over the last twelve months the Cuban people demonstrated their exemplary maturity, the strength of their principles, unity, and their confidence in Fidel and in the Communist Party.

"Despite the deep sorrow we were overcome by [when the president underwent intestinal surgery], nothing came to a halt in the country. There is order in Cuba and a lot of work being done. The leadership organs of the Communist Party and the government operate normally, together seeking the most effective solution to each problem facing the country. All matters linked to the development of the country and living conditions are being responsibly analyzed; we are working for solutions," he added.

"At the same time, the projects promoted by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro continue forward and our people have continued to prepare themselves, with discipline and serenity, to face any military aggression from the enemy," said Raul, who is also Cuba’s Defense Minister.

"Hundreds of thousands militia members and Revolutionary Armed Forces reserves, together with officers, sergeants and soldiers of the permanent troops, have carried out Operation Caguairan, which has substantially increased the defensive capability of the country by achieving unprecedented levels of military training," he said.

This is a huge effort at a time when resources are limited, but it is essential. We will continue to do so, making rational use of resources and people’s time.

Raul Castro recalled that as the Commander-in-Chief had said, the defense of the nation is not a game. He added that avoiding war is the equivalent to winning it; but to avoid it, a lot of sweat and resources must first be sacrificed.

Raul Castro also informed that Operation Caguairan will continue in the coming months. The effort will train about a million Cubans and will conclude with the Bastion 2008 strategic military exercises at the end of next year. By that time, we will be even better prepared to resist and succeed on all battlefronts, including national defense, he said.
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/english/news/art11.html

26 July, 2007

"We need to work hard and be systematic, consolidating every achievement no matter how small," said Cuba’s first vice president during his speech in Camaguey marking the 54th anniversary of the July 26, National Rebellion Day.

Cuba is waging several battles at the same time which require a concerted effort so that there is unity, said Raul Castro. "Unity is the chief weapon of the Revolution and it is essential to take advantage of the potential that Cuba’s socialist society offers," he noted.

The first vice president said the nation’s industrial capacity should be recovered wherever possible, seeking to substitute imports and expand exports. He said that with the price of oil skyrocketing, Cuba’s nationwide energy saving effort is strategic and an almost inexhaustible resource. He regretted though that not enough attention has been paid to the need to be energy efficient.

Raul Castro said Cuba is presently studying the possibility of expanded foreign investment in projects that contribute with capital, technology and markets. He cautioned against a repeat of mistakes made in the past in the area of foreign investments due to what he called "naivety and ignorance regarding this activity."

He said Cuba will look for serious entrepreneurs for projects with sound, clearly defined legal frameworks that ensure the predominant role of the State and of socialist ownership.

The vice president said Cuba will further boost its cooperation with other countries, citing the need for unity on the basis of absolute respect for the path chosen by each nation. He pointed to the high level relations attained with Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua and the solid links that exist with China y Vietnam.

"We will continue to assign priority to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and to the thriving international movement of solidarity with the [Cuban] Revolution," he said, adding that Cuba will step up its work with the United Nations and with multilateral institutions to which the island belongs.

Raul Castro stressed that the upcoming People’s Power legislative elections will provide an opportunity to demonstrate the extraordinary force of Cuba’s true democracy.

He also called on Cubans to be systematic and effective in their efforts, based on planning that considers the strategic priorities set. "We need to be creative and critical in what we do; avoiding being schematic and thinking everything we do is perfect and doesn’t merit revision."

The first vice president recalled that during a similar commemoration on July 26, 1989, Fidel Castro had said that even if the USSR were to disintegrate, Cuba would continue with its revolution, ready to pay the necessary high price for freedom. "History has shown beyond a doubt that Cuba has stood by that determination," he stressed.

Raul Castro called on Cubans to keep fresh in their minds and apply President Fidel Castro’s definition of what the Cuban Revolution is about, as outlined in his May Day speech in the year 2000:

"Revolution means to have a sense of history; it is changing everything that must be changed; it is full equality and freedom; it is being treated and treating others like human beings; it is achieving emancipation by ourselves and through our own efforts; it is challenging powerful dominant forces from within and without the social and national milieu; it is defending the values in which we believe at the cost of any sacrifice; it is modesty, selflessness, altruism, solidarity and heroism; it is fighting with courage, intelligence and realism; it is never lying or violating ethical principles; it is a profound conviction that there is no power in the world that can crush the power of truth and ideas. Revolution means unity; it is independence, it is fighting for our dreams of justice for Cuba and for the world, which is the foundation of our patriotism, our socialism and our internationalism."

Raul Castro said the best tribute Cubans could pay to Fidel on an occasion like today’s, and the best contribution to his getting well, is by always abiding by those revolutionary principles as they go about their daily lives.

He pledged a commitment to work guided by the instructions set forth by President Fidel Castro when he became ill and in the future.

"Regardless of the difficulties, the Cuban people will never be caught off guard by its enemies," concluded Raul.

http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/english/news/art21.html