Beirut, June 7, 2021. Cuban residents, diplomats, solidarity organizations and Lebanese and Palestinian graduates in Cuba expressed their rejection of the illegal US blockade against Cuba and demanded its immediate lifting.
The Cubans, diplomats, members of associations of friendship with the Caribbean country and the league of Palestinian graduates in Cuba chanted slogans and carried signs alluding to the world campaign condemning the US blockade.
Later, the participants in the walk against the blockade planted a cedar tree which they named Fidel Castro, in homage to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution and as a symbol of the historic friendship between Cuba and Lebanon.
Present at the ceremony was the deputy for the south-central region of Chouf, Bilal Abdalah, and a representative of the Progressive Socialist Party, the most influential party in that area.
The Cuban ambassador in Beirut, Alexander Pellicer, thanked all those present and highlighted the world support for Cuba in its struggle against the blockade, at the same time as he announced that on June 23 Cuba will again present the resolution against the blockade, which is expected to have the majority support of the international community.
He also referred to the great symbolism of the planting in Lebanese lands of a cedar tree with Fidel’s name on it, a sign of the admiration and affection of the Lebanese people for the leader of the Revolution and of the long friendship between the two countries.
‘Cuba will never abandon Lebanon, just as the nation of the Levant will always support in the battle against the economic, financial and total encirclement imposed on the West Indian country by the United States,’ said the diplomat.
According to the director of the Natural Reserve of Chouf, Nizar Honi, from now on the Fidel Castro cedar is part of a 20-year old program, thanks to which five thousand specimens of the most symbolic tree among the Lebanese were planted.
The cedar (cedrus libanis) is printed on the national currency, the flag and is one of the national prides because of its special characteristics.
The Lebanese popular perception venerates it as an example of logenvity (there are some specimens that are about three thousand years old) and as a winner because of the difficulties it faces to be born and survive.
In any case, the planting and subsequent development of the Fidel Castro tree will manifest what was said by some present at the ceremony, the eternal friendship between Lebanon and Cuba. (Embacuba LÃbano/Prensa Latina)
