Raul Castro and Rafael Correa Presided over Commemorative Rally in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 8 (acn) Presidents Raul Castro, of Cuba and Rafael Correa, of Ecuador, presided over a rally that marked the 50th anniversary of the victorious entrance in Havana by Fidel Castro and the Rebel Army back in 1959.

The gathering took place at the former Columbia camp, the major military headquarters of the Batista dictatorship, which was turned into a school complex by the Cuban revolution, as it happened with all former military barracks in the country.

The same scenario, where Fidel Castro spoke to the Cuban people January 8,
1959 after his entrance in the city, served as meeting place for students at the center, the Ecuadorian delegation accompanying President Correa in his official visit to Cuba, Cuban Communist Party leaders, commanders of the Revolution, veterans of the revolution, government officials, relatives of the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters held in US prisons and people in general.

Addressing participants, high school student Cesar Daniel Fumero asserted that the new generations of Cubans will never let Fidel down, while brigadier general Delsa Ester Puebla, who bears the Hero of the Republic of Cuba medal, said she was proud to witness the huge social work that began January 1, 1959.

The First Secretary of Cuba's Communist Party in Havana, Pedro Saez warned that no aggressions, hurricanes or blockades have been able to submit the Cuban people. "We have lived five decades of restless efforts, he said as he recalled that the people's unity and their confidence in their leaders have allowed the country to carry on.

At present, Cuba is part of a Latin American region which is increasingly revolutionary and independent and that boasts its determination to boost integration and solidarity, said Saez, who extended warm greetings to the people and government of Ecuador and to President Correa in particular.

Rafael Correa gave the closing speech of the rally in which he praised the Cuban revolution and its historic leader Fidel Castro. He demanded the lifting of the nearly-50-year US economic, financial and commercial blockade of Cuba and the immediate release of the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters unjustly held in US prisons for over 10 years now.

Presidieron Raúl y Correa acto en Ciudad Libertad