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General News    H2'ed 12/28/14

Cuba Will Not Renounce Its Ideas

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Message Raul Castro

The fact that in our social system, trade unions defend workers' rights is no secret. To effectively do so, trade unions should be the first to look after the interests of any given workers group, but also the interests of the entire working class, which are essentially the interests defended by the entire nation.

We can not leave room for selfishness and greed to thrive and consolidate among our workers. We all want and need better salaries, but first we have to create wealth and then distribute it according to the contribution each one makes.

Obviously, there are many other issues related to the updating of the economic model which I have not mentioned. In several of them there have been deviations that we are called to correct in due time, in the spirit of never having to retreat. But for that we have to work in a very serious and responsible way.

No one in the world could ignore Cuba's outstanding international record for the year that is about to conclude. Cubans are faced with a huge challenge: We must put the economy on a par with the political prestige that this small Caribbean Island has earned thanks to the Revolution, the heroism and the resilience of our people. The economy remains the most important unresolved matter and it is our duty to place it, once and for all, on the right path towards the sustainable and irreversible development of socialism in Cuba.

As I said at the beginning, the deputies and the entire people feel deeply moved and excited about the possibility of sharing the presence in Cuba of Gerardo, Ramà ³n, Antonio, Fernando and Rene, which makes true the promise made by Comrade Fidel thirteen years ago. The extraordinary example of firmness, sacrifice and dignity of the Cuban Five has filled with pride an entire nation that struggled tirelessly for their liberation and now welcomes them as true heroes (APPLAUSE).

I reiterate our profound and sincere gratitude to all solidarity movements and committees that struggled for their release and to innumerable governments, parliaments, organizations, institutions and personalities for their valuable contribution.

The Cuban people are grateful for this just decision made by the US President, Barack Obama. It has removed one obstacle that hindered the relations between our two countries.

The entire world has had a positive reaction to the announcements made last Wednesday; it has assessed their importance for international relations, particularly for US links with the region. They have led to favorable statements by governments, presidents and well-known personalities, which we sincerely appreciate.

They have been the result of talks held at the highest level and under absolute secrecy, thanks to the contribution by Pope Francis and the facilities offered by the Canadian government.

This result has also been possible thanks to the profound changes in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region whose governments and peoples call for a new US Cuba policy.

We welcome the decision announced by President Obama to begin a new chapter in the relations between both countries, introducing the most significant changes in US Cuba policy in more than 50 years.

We likewise recognize his willingness to hold discussions with the US Congress about the lifting of the blockade and his desire to achieve a better future for both nations, our hemisphere and the world.

We share the idea that a new stage could open up between the United States and Cuba that will begin with the resumption of diplomatic relations, to be based on the Conventions governing Diplomatic and Consular Relations and regulating the conduct of Diplomatic and Consular Missions and their officials.

We will engage in the high level contacts between both governments with a constructive, respectful spirit of reciprocity, with the purpose of moving towards the normalization of relations.

As I expressed last December 17, a very important step has been taken, but the essential problem still remains unresolved, which is the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba that has been further tightened during the last few years, particularly in the area of financial transactions, through the application of skyrocketing and illegitimate fines on banks from several countries.

Our people should understand that under the circumstances that have already been announced, this will be a long and hard struggle which will require international opinion and US society to continue calling for the lifting of the blockade.

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President of Cuba

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Cuba Will Not Renounce Its Ideas

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