With the presence of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, the closing ceremony of the second plenary session of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee took place Sunday, October 24, in Havana’s Convention Palace, with Party First Secretary and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, presenting the keynote address.
“I applaud you for the Plenum that has just concluded,” said Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, addressing participants in second plenary session of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, held Sunday, October 24, in Havana’s Convention Palace.
For those at the meeting – headed by Party First Secretary Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the presence of Raúl at the closing session, who was received with a standing ovation, came as a surprise. “Very good interventions,” he added referring to those participating in the Plenum’s two-day analysis of core issues in the life of the country.
President Díaz-Canel described the Army General’s presence provided a touch of grace to the closing, and began his remarks, not before noting that Raul was keeping his promise – expressed six months ago at the 8th Party Congress – to continue, until the end of the battle, “with his foot in the stirrup.”
The President went on to discuss the complexity of the current moment the country is facing, in a world immersed in the challenges of COVID-19, a scenario in which, he said, the Cuban people are “without a doubt, not the most affected, but we are the most punished.”
He reflected on the uniqueness of Cuba, not only because of our intrinsic characteristics, but also because of the punishment imposed on our people by the U.S. government’s international economic and financial siege, incomparable to any other on the planet.
Díaz-Canel addressed several urgent issues, denouncing the enemy’s aspirations to break our unity and resistance, and noting the strategic tools Cuba has developed recently to move forward, as well as the lessons learned in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasized several key concepts about the necessary struggle: the practice of maintaining revolutionary guard, revolutionary vigilance, which can never be abandoned, recalling that we are distinguished by our unity, capacity to resist and dignity; that we have the obligation to move forward and are going to emerge victorious in this battle; that we will have bright spots along the way, and that there are solutions for each of the problems we are facing.
Likewise, the First Secretary stated that the greatest virtue lies in being useful and doing for others; that we cannot take even one step back in the conquests of the Revolution; that the decision is to struggle and emerge victorious; and that every problem provides an opportunity to win.
The President’s speech was marked by optimism, calling for critical analysis of our reality and not giving an inch in defense of the Revolution. “We must draw inspiration from the people,” he emphasized, “This is an opportunity for us to build consciousness, to overcome difficulties, to struggle and fight for victory, never discouraged.”
Díaz-Canel made an essential call “to close ranks, to fight our problems, to struggle with creativity, this is part of the battle.”
Regarding the past July 11 and the lessons learned that day, the President stated that the events do not constitute evidence of a rupture. In fact, he said, they provided evidence of unity, a victory for the Cuban Revolution.
There are enough revolutionaries here,” stated the First Secretary of the Central Committee, “to confront any type of demonstration that seeks to destroy the Revolution.” We struggle, he said, with intelligence, with respect and in defense of our Constitution, but also with strength and courage.
To the imperialists, Diaz-Canel Bermudez sent a very clear message: “They should know that they will be obliged to fight a people that will not be fooled, a people sufficiently numerous, brave and heroic to fight, who are not intimidated by threats.”
He recalled that we will never give in to imperialism “not even a tiny bit,” as many must have remembered Che insisting.
During this Plenum, as at other times for the homeland, the combat order was explicit, with the Party First Secretary reiterating that Cubans are “ready and willing to do everything to defend what is most sacred, what unites us, to be consistent with the invariable decision of Homeland or Death, Socialism or Death, and the deepest conviction that we will win!”
(Information from Granma version in English)
