Greeted with shouts of “Cuba sí, Yankees no” and “Fidel, Fidel, what does Fidel have that the imperialists can’t get to him?” Díaz-Canel began his remarks to representatives of the more than 124 political parties and left movements present. His first words were for Comandante Hugo Chávez Frías, “Cuba’s best friend, son of the Americas who turns 65 today in eternity,” who Fidel loved as a son and placed next to Bolívar and Martí in the battle for the Greater Homeland.

He continued with a profound speech, full of symbolism, denouncing the innumerable malicious actions taken by neoliberal powers. But even this evil is dwarfed – Díaz-Canel insisted – when Our America meets, that is, the diverse, plural, and supportive world of progressive partisan leaders of Latin American and Caribbean, social activists who decided in the dark 1990s to build this unitary organization of the left, today alive and active.

A speech in which the Cuban head of state constantly evoked the ideas of Bolívar and Martí, from whom, he stated, Fidel and Chavez nourished the ideology of our revolutions, adding “Unity and integration were their great obsessions and must also be ours.”

“I know that these are also the obsessions of the Sao Paulo Forum, born of the need for unity and articulation of political parties and popular movements of the left in our region, to confront imperialism and the neoliberal right,” he said.

Díaz-Canel’s words turned again and again to history and its coincidences; to the transcendence of how much has been done in pursuit of integration and unity among our peoples; to the urgent need to further strengthen what unites us within our diversity.

“The São Paulo Forum summons us during an extremely challenging July and here we are, to accompany the heroic Venezuelan resistance and demand an end to the brutal siege that has been imposed on the country. Venezuela is today the anti-imperialist struggle’s primary trench,” he stated, and the audience applauded.

Called upon to play a more leading role in today’s complex political situation, the Sao Paulo Forum faces great challenges, and has much to learn and do for the benefit of our peoples. Because precisely to give hope – recalled the Cuban President – the group was founded by Fidel and Lula, as a valuable instrument for concerted action within diversity.

“Let us not forget for a moment that we are in besieged Caracas,” he said, reaffirming before the world Cuba’s support and solidarity with “legitimate President Nicolás Maduro Moros and the military-civic union that has defeated the worst plans of the enemy so many times.” This is support for the ideals of a people, their fortitude as a nation of Our America.

Imperialism proposes that we betray Venezuela, showing shameless cynicism they resort to blackmail, he said.

“Ignorant of history and the Cuban Revolution’s foreign policy principles, they propose to negotiate a possible reconciliation with us, in exchange for abandoning the course chosen and defended by our people. They suggest betraying friends, throwing 60 years of dignity into the trash bin.

“No, imperialist gentlemen, we do not understand each other,” he insisted.

There could be no better tribute to Chavez than this meeting, where unity was palpable, the great legacy that our heroes bequeathed to us.

The challenge of this event – Díaz-Canel noted – is to finally make a reality of this beautiful alliance of forces. Our America and its people need this; the left of the world demands it.

VENEZUELA IS NOT ALONE

The call for unity was also present in the words of President Maduro, who insisted that unity must become the word of order for our peoples, because only united will we have the strength to win our definitive independence.

With similar emphasis, he denounced the media campaign against Venezuela and its government, recalling that the Bolivarian Revolution emerged as an autochthonous response to the crisis of the imperialist model that had been imposed on the country.

Constant lies and manipulations are wielded against our people – he said – but the people of Venezuela are a courageous people with a democratic culture, with rebel values.

He called for continuous efforts to consolidate unity of the left, which can allow for a great movement for the unification of popular forces.

“Thank you for coming to Venezuela to defend the truth,” he told those present.

Whatever they do, whatever they say, the Bolivarian Revolution will continue to stand firm, Maduro insisted.

What better culmination to close the event, called upon to set the course for the Sao Paulo Forum, a mechanism of integration and struggle for our peoples, and why not, our hopes.

(Granma)

The Venezuelan leader was accompanied by First Combatant, Cilia Flores, and Minister for Communication and Information, Jorge Rodríguez.

(Granma)

This has been a cross-cutting theme in all the debate and dialogue spaces throughout the event, which will contribute to the Final Declaration and Plan of Action to be announced on Wednesday afternoon, during the closing of the Meeting.

Granma shares some essential ideas on which many have agreed, and that define the challenges on the road toward that essential unity for the struggles of the present and the future of our peoples:

- It is important to preserve the experiences of governments of a popular and anti-imperialist nature, promoted by parties that form part of the São Paulo Forum.

- The emancipatory efforts and anti-capitalist ideals of social and popular movements must be encouraged and offered resolute support.

- We must work hard to consolidate a lasting peace and promote efforts to advance the sovereign integration of what Martí called Our America.

- When there is unity, determined and capable political leadership, clear objectives, a fighting spirit, and the support of the popular classes, the options to contain, and even to defeat, any counter-revolutionary offensive are multiplied.

- It is a duty to properly explain and boldly and creatively defend the unquestionable economic, social and political gains achieved during the experiences of popular government that for one reason or another have suffered major setbacks (from Honduras in 2009 to Brazil today), as well as the achievements and strengths of those governments that endure amid enormous internal and external difficulties and challenges.

- There will be no sustainable progress in a revolutionary experience, or progressive changes motivated by the values of social justice and equity, without the timely and adequate practice of criticism and self-criticism.

- We must oppose with an authentic internationalist and Latin Americanist spirit, with a firm and non-negotiable sense of dignity, the emancipatory plan of our noble peoples, in the face of that of transnationals and the imperialist forces of the North to undermine the sovereignty of our nations and take control of their natural resources.

- If leftist political parties and popular movements with progressive ideas and commitments lose perspective of the need for the broadest and most democratic unity, they will be granting the reactionaries just what they need. The conclusion is simple: either we unite, or we sink into the mud of the counterrevolution that they are attempting to impose.

(Granma)

The opening session was presided by José Ramón Machado Ventura, second secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’s (PCC) Central Committee; Mónica Valente, FSP executive secretary; and Gleisi Hoffman, president of the Workers Party in Brazil (PT).

Also present were Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and other Cuban leaders, regional coordinators of the event, and special guests including Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and former Presidents Dilma Rousseff, from Brazil, and Manuel Zelaya, from Honduras.

José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, member of the PCC Secretariat and head of its international relations department, commented, “The highest leadership of our Party has made the decision to contribute to concluding this new meeting of the continent’s left forces with practical agreements, and with greater collective consciousness on the need to advance in the construction of broad continental unity, on the basis of integrationist principles represented by Simón Bolívar and José Martí in the 19th century, and Fidel Castro and Hugo more recently.”

(Granma)

Given the occasion, GranmaInternational conversed with José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, member of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee Secretariat and head of its international relations department.

What has the Sao Paolo Forum represented to date?

It must be recalled that the moment in which the Forum was founded was one of great uncertainty – for some, very similar to these times – and some figures like Lula and Fidel were vital. They saw that socialism could not disappear, that an alternative was needed, so that all those left parties, all those political forces that had a distinct view of society continue the struggle against the capitalist system – exploitative in its essence – so that it not continue imposing itself on our peoples.

There was no intention to impose anything, establish norms or lines, but rather to sit down to discuss the disappearance of the Soviet Union, so the concept that a truly just society could exist was not lost, that history was not over. It was an extraordinary moment that remedied the disarray that existed.

Later in Havana, in 1993, Fidel spoke of the need for unity of left-wing forces as the only alternative, a life or death question. Continuing could not be renounced, because life had shown that when forces on the left are united they can win in representative democracy systems; in elections they could take power and move societies toward more just models.

And despite the obstacles and threats, the destabilization attempts of all kinds, it has been shown that when there is unity, they can struggle and continue winning despite the adverse conditions, as seen with projects like the Bolivarian Revolution, or what the Citizens Revolution in Ecuador achieved, or that of Evo Morales in Bolivia, the Sandinista Revolution, in the Brazil of Lula and Dilma with the PT in the lead.

The possibilities that emerged in Latin America were until then unthinkable, and the moment arrived when the United States was obliged to accept Cuba at the Summit of the Americas, previously unimaginable, thanks to the solidarity of the left with Cuba.

What was seen with the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) was consolidated with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). And thus the empire’s action became harsher, to attempt to keep this from happening.

Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz during the closing session of the Tenth Sao Paulo Forum. The historic leader of the Cuban Revolution always insisted on the need for unity among left forces as the only alternative, a life and death question. Photo: Ricardo López Hevia
We have seen how the supposed struggle against corruption has been raised to overthrow progressive governments, that what was happening in the region on the basis of the spirit of solidarity and cooperation generated was totally antagonistic to the imperialist system. So judicial means were sought, economic war, violence, attempting to reverse these achievements and impose the Monroe Doctrine.

This meeting in Havana is being held, therefore, at a critical moment to achieve understanding, comprehension of the importance of the FSP in the construction of integration, for the common good.

No one has ever presumed to say what must done, but rather asserted something essential: the only way to move forward is on the basis of left unity.

Look how interesting the situation in Mexico is, an overwhelming victory for Andrés Manuel López Obrador. What does this mean? Within the context of the discussion, of dialogue, it can be understood that when the forces unite, what seemed impossible can happen.

There is talk of pessimism…

It’s the same thing they attempted when the USSR disappeared, predicting the end of history and making it appear that, from then on, there was nothing beyond capitalism. And the disarray began, the division, the splitting of the left; sectarianism became harsher, the divorce of revolutionary parties from social movements. In the United States, a large number of trade unions disappeared.

But the social movements, for example, have to date achieved greater articulation in the struggle and this is a reality. Of course, they represent the people, those facing problems everyday and needing a different society to be able to live.

It’s important to understand, and to propose the possibility of left forces discussing among ourselves a political program, because it is difficult to achieve unity around only electoral questions. A political projection of the society must be conceived as well, and this program must be implemented if the elections are won.

But for this, a sense of the historic moment is needed – as Fidel told us in his conception of Revolution – because at times, some things are correct, they are required, but at a certain moment, hard to accomplish. This is what the Cuban Revolution has done: resist, continue struggling, always counting on the power and strength of our people, who have sustained the revolutionary process.

This is about left forces uniting without losing their identities, but on the basis of a political program. What is impossible is transforming society without the unity of left forces, and that they take power.

At this time, there is nothing more solid than the FSP, in which existing problems can be discussed, as well as ways to build unity. Thus, in Havana, the European left will meet with our region and there will also be representatives of movements and social organizations, artists and intellectuals. The media war will be discussed, but from an optimistic point of view and the conviction that together we can accomplish things.

Twenty-five years later, a FSP meeting in Havana…

It gives many people, who could be thinking in a different way, the opportunity to understand that the Cuban Revolution continues to be the same one, unique, with the same Party in the lead; to understand what we did during the Sixth and Seventh Congresses, that was reaffirm the future and the concept of a more just society, that we have not lowered our banners or our weapons, but quite the opposite. So they understand that we are perfecting our society, adjusting ourselves to the current times, including our relations with the United States, which are very well defined and we hope to normalize, like those with any other country in the world, but there are principles that we will never renounce.

This meeting allows friends from the whole world, member of the FSP and guests from other regions, to see that Cuba is firm in its concepts and its principles, and what has been achieved is precisely because of our unity.

The presence of Martí and Fidel…

The objective of the tribute to Fidel in a special plenary dedicated to his thought and relationship to the FSP, to unity, is to dialogue and see how his ideas are renewed, how much is left for us to do, and that this is understood in its full magnitude.

Our Revolution is moving to the beat of the conceptions and principles of Fidel, of what he was able to make a reality, of the principles he disseminated worldwide.

What predominates in the Cuban Revolution, what we would like to predominate among those who want to struggle, is the thought of Fidel, which is the most advanced on earth as revolutionary, transformative thought, coming to the rescue of that which supposedly disappeared with the USSR, that is the real possibility of transforming society to become more just, with all and for the good of all, as Martí also taught us.

That is why the presence of Martí and Fidel is constant in all of us, with two essential ideas: independence and the construction of a country with social justice, which make it easier for great followers of Mart’s thought to understand socialism. They accompany us every day, and will always do so, in this vital battle for unity.

(Granma)

The Forum, founded in 1990 on the initiative of historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and former President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is a space to “discuss ideas” and “build alternative policies,” added Balaguer.

Over 300 delegates and guests from 32 countries worldwide are meeting Managua to discuss challenges facing the left and the continuation of transformations begun in the region.

Balaguer, also head of the PCC’s International Relations department, stressed the importance of the adoption of the “Consensus of Our America,” the forum’s first programmatic document.

The text, he noted, should not be taken as a manual or set of theories to guide revolutionary activity, but rather “is a proposal by the Sao Paulo Forum stemming from the idea that no one knows the concrete realities of their respective processes better than the political forces leading them.”

The Cuban official went on to denounce unconventional methods of warfare, with the gradually increasing use of violence aimed at destroying the social gains made by the people over recent years, particularly in Venezuela.

Balaguer praised political progress in Nicaragua with the re-election of the Sandinista Front last November, as well as the results of Ecuador’s Presidential election, and the work of the Movement Toward Socialism led by Evo Morales in Bolivia.

He went on to express solidarity with the sister nation of Brazil where social gains made under the Workers’ Party (PT) government are being dismantled. “May comrades Lula and Dilma Rousseff receive our message of fraternity,” he stated.

Balaguer also welcomed the presence of Puerto Rican independence fighter Oscar López Rivera at the forum, and expressed support for the island’s cause.

He warned that the United States is still attempting to bring down the Cuban Revolution, but reaffirmed the people’s commitment to the principles of independence or death.

Balaguer also reminded those present that this 23rd forum is the first to take place without the physical presence of Comandante en Jefe of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro. In this sense he quoted Raúl’s speech in the recently concluded National Assembly of People’s Power session: “Let us face the new challenges under the guidance of his example, revolutionary intransigence and eternal faith in victory.”

On the initiative of the Sao Paulo Forum’s Executive Secretary, Mónica Valente, the auditorium dedicated a tribute to Fidel.
Valente also highlighted the varied and multiple challenges facing the Forum. “We are united by the ability to build the future and dream of a new Latin America and the Caribbean with development, social justice and sovereignty,” she noted.

(Granma)

In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina, the head of International Relations Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC, in Spanish) said that arriving to the 25th anniversary of the creation of the FSP, ‘one wonders how the situation would be if the Forum did not exist.’

It made possible to discuss and analyze with a sense of left-wing, to take action by the people, by the humble masses, the poor and people in need as a result of that capitalist domain in our nations, he said.

He recalled the ‘struggle the forum held against the Free Trade” and the failure of neoliberal policies which showed that the capitalist system did not offer solutions to the major problems of the people, to the needs of the people.

Progressive parties that currently make up the forum are the ones to rule their countries and create the real possibility of achieving the real future that must prevail, which is the Latin American integration, he said.

The birth of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, in Spanish) represents a new situation for the empire, because it would be the second and real independence due to the potential that our people with almost 600 million inhabitants, and all the energy capacity they possess.

There is an organization of exchange of scientific development and above all of the people of the Caribbean, because you cannot forget it is Latin America and the Caribbean, he said.

Today there is a totally different situation, so the empire acts against Argentina, Venezuela and Ecuador, against governments which are doing something for the first time in favor of the masses, of workers, he remarked.

At meetings of the Forum I could see how much Cuba is appreciated there and I hope that the economic blockade against the island to be removed.

Referring to the restoration of relations between Cuba and the United States Balaguer suggested that one needs only to read the speech by Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz at the Summit of the Americas.

There, explained Balaguer, it is defined what our principles are, the concepts and aims to consolidate and strengthen socialism, to which we do not renounce.

World governments have criteria and various political ideas, but nevertheless maintain diplomatic relations, so it will be with the United States and Cuba.

We will always be together with Latin America, defending their interests and future, he concluded.

One hundred delegates from 20 countries attend the event in Havana, which should approve the draft proposal of the 19th annual meeting of the Forum, to be held from July 31 to August 4 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), founder and member of the Working Group, will propose the participants to discuss the document “The need for the unity of the left in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Delegates will learn about the updating of the Cuban socialist model, particularly the implementation of the resolutions of the 6th Congress of the PCC about this issue.

According to the event’s organizers, the structural crisis of the capitalist system and a plan of solidarity with the Bolivarian process in Venezuela will be issues under discussion.

Prior to the meeting, Jose Ramon Balaguer, member of the Secretariat and head of the International Relations department of the PCC, received here the Forum’s executive secretary Valter Pomar.

Pomar is also a member of the national leadership of the Workers’ Party (PT) of Brazil, driving force along with other parties of this left and progressive parties group of the continent.