Speech delivered by Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, at the March of the Combatant People against the blockade and for the removal of Cuba from the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, at the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, on December 20, 2024, "Year 66 of the Revolution". Translated from the Spanish.
Dear Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution;
Dear people of Cuba;
Havaneros;
Compatriots;
The current U.S. administration, which today has exactly one month left in the White House, has done nothing to move away from the line of reinforced blockade and economic asphyxiation of Cuba left as a legacy by the Republican administration that returns to the Oval Office in January.
With the application of the 243 additional measures and the maintenance of Cuba on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, Biden complied completely and cruelly with the policy that Trump approved during his term.
In recent weeks and days, there have been numerous pronouncements from U.S. personalities and from other parts of the world demanding that Biden make use of his power, so that he at least removes from that spurious list the name of a nation that should never have been there.
To point to Cuba as a state that supposedly sponsors terrorism is at the least false and immoral, no matter where the accusation comes from, but it is doubly so when the accusation comes from the United States, where paramilitary groups that organize, promote and finance terrorist actions against social and economic structures in Cuba are currently being trained.
They are based in South Florida and do not hide their training. They do so publicly, in full view and with the protection of local authorities, even violating their own laws and international treaties.
This is how they have acted for many years, sheltering in their territory confessed terrorists from this continent, such as Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, the masterminds of the abominable crime in Barbados who, however, died peacefully in the United States without ever paying for their crimes.
Knowing such a history, no US ruler can classify Cuba as a terrorist state.
The current government of that country knows this well. This was acknowledged by Secretary of State Antony Blinken last May when he declared to the media that there is no justification for Cuba's continued presence on that list.
They recognize it but do not act, because US policy towards Cuba was hijacked more than six decades ago by the Batistato mafia stronghold, based in South Florida, before which they have shown weakness when it comes to acting coherently towards our country.
Cuba's persistence on that list and the intensification of the blockade policy are ruthless actions towards the Cuban people that must stop now!
When our international trade and our financial transactions are persecuted and impeded, the people of Cuba are being denied food, medicine, fuel, goods, supplies and merchandise essential to their survival.
When obstacles are placed in the way of our exports or relations with our companies are persecuted and penalized, the country is being deprived of essential foreign currency to develop and to finance our project of social justice.
When the contracting of online services is prevented or academic and scientific exchanges are restricted, a blow is being dealt to a nation that seeks to develop and get ahead with its own talent and efforts, in the midst of an increasingly interconnected world.
When a people is denied medical oxygen in the middle of a pandemic, and even other countries or foreign companies that can provide it are intimidated, this is a criminal act.
That is the day-to-day in which Cuba, its people and its government struggle to break through.
The attempt of the United States to destroy the dignity of this people, through coercion, has been defeated today with this mass, combative march, demonstrating how the honor of our Homeland continues to be high! (Applause.)
Since we launched the call for this march, the doomsayers of anti-Cuban hatred shouted hysterically that it would be a failure, called for a boycott and lied about their motivations.
How little they know the Cuban people! How much they still underestimate our patriotic and revolutionary convictions!
Other tiny voices from the U.S. government and the anti-Cuban mafia in South Florida insisted on poisoning social networks with the false idea that this was an anti-American march.
Towards the American people we do not hold the slightest feeling of hatred or animosity. To the noble citizens of that country we have nothing but respect, and our hand is always extended to strengthen the bonds of comradeship between the two peoples.
It is the same hand that we have extended to all the governments of the United States, from the triumph of the Revolution until today, always based on a serious, respectful relationship on equal terms.
But if the United States persists in its efforts to break our sovereignty, our independence, our socialism, it will only find rebellion and intransigence! (Applause.)
The Cuban Revolution has survived every administration that has tried to do this and will continue to.
This is an anti-imperialist march, yes! Against the plans of US imperialism, we will march now and always! (Applause.)
We are marching now, to say to the U.S. government: Let the Cuban people live in peace!
Down with interference! (Shouts of "Down!")
Down with the blockade! (Shouts of "Down!")
Down with the unilateral coercive measures against Cuba! (Shouts of "Down!")
Down with Cuba's continued placement on the list of state sponsors of terrorism! (Shouts of "Down!")
Down with genocide against the Cuban people! (Shouts of "Down!")
Socialism or Death!
Homeland or Death!
We will win! (Shouts of "We shall overcome!")
(Ovation.)
This work is translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC
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