Articles of Raúl Castro Ruz

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Remarks at the Special Session of Leaders of SICA, ALBA and the Rio Group

Raúl Castro

We have been called together by an extremely grave and transcendental event for Latin America and the Caribbean. We are all aware of the ill-treatment and abuses to which the president and foreign minister of Honduras were subjected, along with the ambassadors of Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba. The right of the Honduran people to political free expression has been trampled on.

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Key address at the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement

Raúl Castro

We are currently afflicted by a deep economic, social, food, energy and environmental crisis that have become global. The international debates are multiplied but they do not engage every country. There is a growing awareness that solutions must be found shortly; however, just and lasting solutions seem elusive. If we fail to act firmly and expeditiously our peoples stand to suffer again the worst consequences of this crisis, and for a longer period of time.

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Remarks during the public segment of the Seventh Extraordinary ALBA Summit

Raúl Castro

Remember, you have to give me the floor so that I can thank everyone, especially those who have spoken, –and that includes Daniel, because he will speak likewise, as he has done throughout his life as a revolutionary– on behalf of the people of Cuba, for all the expressions of solidarity and support for our Revolution, for our people, and I think also for the Leader of the Revolution, comrade Fidel Castro, who is listening to us directly.

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Speech at the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

Raúl Castro

In a day like this, our first thoughts are for those who fell in this long struggle. They constitute a paradigm and a symbol of the efforts and sacrifices of millions of Cubans. Closely united in the clamor of battle, waging the powerful weapons embodied in Fidel’s leadership, his teachings and his example, we have learned how to transform our dreams into a reality; how to keep our heads cool and our confidence in the face of dangers and threats; how to get over the big setbacks; how to turn every challenge into a victory and to overcome adversity, no matter how insurmountable they might have seem.

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Key address to the Second Session of the 7th Legislature of the National Assembly of People´s Power

Raúl Castro

We are coming to the end of a year when our country has taken up difficult challenges. A world economy marked by the upheavals of a sustained decline has been aggravated by increasingly devastating and unpredictable natural phenomena. Cuba as well as the other countries from Latin America and the Caribbean has witnessed a succession of droughts, hurricanes and floods of growing intensity and frequency.

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Speech at the official lunch hosted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during his state visit to Brazil

Raúl Castro

I am extremely pleased to be in Brazil today on an official visit as I promised our friend President Lula, a visit that is intended to further strengthen the historic relations between our peoples. The ties of brotherhood between Cuba and Brazil have continued being reinforced throughout the years, enriched by a cultural identity which emanated from our roots. The only thing missing in this human closeness was the increase of the economic ties which multiplied under Lula’s government.

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Words at the ceremony unveiling the bust of Simón Bolívar, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Raúl Castro

Starting early in the morning tomorrow, I shall be beginning an official visit to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, and when we have concluded this ceremony we shall be going there; therefore, I shall speak very briefly to you; I don’t speak as much as Chávez does, because Chávez is more vigorous, he’s younger. It is true that I told you, as we were coming up here, that he was in prison at the time the Third Ibero-American Summit was being held in 1993, with Fidel and other heads of state participating.

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Speech at the Extraordinary Summit of the Rio Group. Salvador, Bahía, Brazil

Raúl Castro

I hope that Lula, comrade and dear friend, does not protest, because I speak less than Chávez does. (Laughter) Very simply, I had planned on asking to speak so that I could thank everyone, those who have spoken and those who haven’t spoken, all those who have been in agreement, this exemplary unanimity they have shown on the subject of Cuba’s entry into the Rio Group. I don’t know what you are thinking, but for us this is a very important moment in our history.

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Speech at the Latin American and Caribbean summit on Integration and Development. Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Raúl Castro

The road to this gathering has been long and difficult. It is unquestionably transcendental that for the first time the leaders of Latin America and the Caribbean are meeting in a forum guided by noble and just aspirations, without exclusions and without the presence of countries from outside the region. We feel that adequate conditions prevail to turn this solemn conclave into the starting point of a process of remarkable strategic significance for the destiny of our region, in a world where there is hardly any space for isolated actions that disregard the common challenges decisively thrown on us by globalization.

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Address in the MERCOSUR summit. Costa de Sauipe, Salvador, Bahía, Brazil

Raúl Castro

I appreciate the invitation extended to us to take part in this MERCOSUR Summit. First, allow me to convey the special greetings of comrade Fidel Castro who accompanied you during the 2006 summit held in Argentina. On behalf of Cuba, I reiterate our people’s friendship and solidarity. It is with justified optimism that we have closely followed the commendable efforts of the nations in the south of the continent towards integration, economic complementation and in defence of their regional space.