Esteban Lazo: ‘Russia Can Count on Cuba’s Friendship’
The following is a transcript of a portion of a speech by the President of Cuba’s Parliament, Esteban Lazo Hernández, today in an official visit to Russia’s Federation Council of the Federal Assembly.
Cuba warned that the conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided if the United States and NATO had not pushed NATO expansion up to the borders of the Russian Federation and if an increasingly aggressive military doctrine had not prevailed in that alliance.
I also want to express our strong rejection of the unilateral sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation by western governments in general, and the United States in particular.
I also ratify that Cuba advocates a negotiated solution to the conflict, which takes into account the interests of all parties, including the Russian Federation.
We are united by several decades of uninterrupted friendship. For my people, Russia has a very special meaning ever since the October Revolution. After that, in the hard years of World War II, when together with the other peoples that made up the Soviet Union, it was a determining and decisive force to put an end to fascism.
Eternal homage to the heroes and martyrs of that fierce battle!
What happened then cannot be forgotten or misrepresented. Humanity will have to be eternally grateful to the people who offered the lives of 27 million of their children to annihilate fascism and prevent it from taking over the world.
Since then, our ties have expanded, strengthened, and become endearing in the years that have followed the triumph of the Revolution and up to the present day.
We feel great sympathy and affection for the Russian people, a true brotherhood. Both I and my delegation are excited to visit Russia and, once again, express our trust and friendship to you.
We reiterate the importance of continuing and strengthening the exchange between our legislative bodies, and the willingness to hold the first bilateral inter-parliamentary meeting when our respective agendas allow it.
Fidel taught us to pursue dreams that, however difficult they may seem, are achievable, if, as our President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, we arm ourselves with commitment, perseverance, and dedication for the sacred cause of social justice, independence, and sovereignty.
Under this conviction, I convey to the people of Russia our gratitude for helping us paint this promising horizon for our country, with the hope and the conviction that you can always count on Cuba’s friendship.
By Kawsachun News
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