Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque: Cuba Continues to Carry Forward Ideals of Fidel Castro

Ahora.cu

01-12-2006

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque says that Cuba will continue to carry forward the ideals of the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro. Speaking at the international colloquium "Memory and Future: Cuba and Fidel," the Cuban foreign minister said that even though the Cuban president was absent at the gathering, his ideas and thoughts were not absent.

Felipe Pérez Roque said that Cuba's enemies are waiting and hoping for the death of Fidel, without understanding that he is the people, represented in every man and woman struggling everywhere for a better world. The top Cuban diplomat spoke on the panel "Patria es Humanidad" -- "Homeland is Humanity" -- during the second day of the colloquium.

The gathering continued Thursday at Havana's International Convention Center. More than 1,600 personalities from nearly 80 countries are in attendance. The meeting closes with a plenary session at the Karl Marx Theater on Friday.

Thursday evening at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune -- located in front of the U.S. Interests Section on Havana's seaside drive the Malecón -- thousands gathered to enjoy a special concert with Cuban and Latin American musicians.

The concert, entitled "Todas las Voces Todas," got underway at 9 p.m. local time and began with several songs by renowned Cuban singer and composer Pablo Milanés.

Silvio Rodríguez took to the stage after Pablo, but before he could perform, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday, Silvio." The popular singer-songwriter turned 60 years old on Wednesday.

Daniel Viglietti, a folk singer from Uruguay, followed Silvio -- in turn, the Group Arawi from Bolivia came on stage to perform at the huge outdoor concert with music from the Andes.

Personalities from around the world are in Havana to attend special celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the landing of the Granma yacht -- officially commemorated on December 2nd -- and the 80th birthday of Cuban President Fidel Castro. Activities have been taking place all this week and will go into the weekend. On Saturday, a huge military parade is scheduled for the Plaza de la Revolución, followed by a massive march of some 300,000 people.

(Taken from RHC)