With 130 delegates from more than 60 organizations in attendance, the XIX General Assembly of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) opened in Havana’s Convention Center, yesterday November 9, and celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding.
The assembly is set to debate, evaluate and make plans to move forward in a united fashion, to disseminate a strong international message of hope and courage to youth around the world, the organization’s president, Nicolas Papademetriou, emphasized in his opening remarks.
Yuniasky Crespo Baquero, first secretary of Cuba’s Young Communist League (UJC), reiterated the importance of forging unity, and making “solidarity our most precious weapon. We must strengthen and increase our collective actions to revitalize the struggle of youth on the left, much-needed in a world where self-centeredness and unsustainable, unequal patterns of life are promoted.”
Crespo Baquero expressed her satisfaction to work with so many brothers and sisters who have accompanied Cuba in its efforts “to continue constructing a more equitable society for all, condemning the blockade imposed by the United States, and in the struggle which won the return to the homeland of our Five Heroes, anti-terrorist fighters.”
Also attending were WFDY vice-presidents Gris Hananda for Asia, Marwa Saab, for the Middle East, and Dalfino Hoster Guila, for Africa; Clara Pulido Escandel, the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) coordinator for international relations with Africa and the Middle East; and Julio César García Rodríguez, PCC Central Committee functionary.
(Granma)