Helsinki, August 13th. – On the morning of August 13th, the 95th Anniversary of the birth of the Commander-in-Chief, Fidel Castro Ruz, a group of friends of the board of directors of the Friendship Association, the Communist Party and Youth and the Parliamentarian Group of Friendship with Cuba in Finland met at the headquarters of the island’s diplomatic mission in this capital, to exchange on the life and work of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution.
In his opening remarks, the Charge D’Affaires a.i of Cuba in Helsinki, Mr. Víctor M. Rodríguez Etcheverry, highlighted Fidel’s organizing role in preparing the armed struggle against Batista’s tyranny and his strategic vision to organize the revolutionary forces, which finally overthrew him. However, in his opinion, the Commander’s greatest merit was guiding several generations of Cubans in the construction of a socialist society, as José Martí dreamed “with everyone and for the good of all,” in the midst of constant imperial aggression along the way over the past 60 years.
“Cuba is a bulwark of resistance, independence and a fighter for a better world. For this reason, the United States has tried and is trying strenuously to sink us into the sea with Economic Blockades, 4th and 5th generation aggressions and whatever immoral trick they have at hand to punish us for wanting to be independent and socialist”, said the Cuban diplomat. “Fidel instilled in us that the Homeland is the most sacred treasure and that as long as there will be only one Cuban standing, this will be his own Commander-in-Chief to defend the Revolution,” Etcheverry declared.
The president of the Communist Party of Finland, Juha-Pekka Väisänen recalled with emotion his visit to Cuba as part of the Finnish delegation that participated in the XIV World Festival of Youth and Students in Havana 1997, where they had the opportunity to exchange with the historical leader. “He was an extraordinarily eloquent man and an inspiring revolutionary figure. Fidel managed to make many people of the world understand that the war against capitalism was the way to save the human species and he was always right. Hence our great admiration for him”, Väisänen said.
During the meeting, participants exchanged on the life and work of the Commander in Chief, whom many have approached through literature. The new generations of Communist Finns read Fidel as an imperishable guide to the world class struggle.
The small tribute had a cultural moment, in the “Song to Fidel”, a poem by Carilda Oliver Labra to the historical leader, performed by young and consecrated voices of the Cuban music scene and the documentary “Fidel is Fidel”, made by the renowned director Roberto Chile.
