Cuba celebrates 65 years of the revolution with the presence of Raul Castro

Several events throughout Cuba celebrated this Monday (1) the 65th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. With the presence of Raul Castro, leader of the revolutionary movement, and President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the population paid homage to the movement that took over the capital of the Caribbean country on January 1, 1959.

The city of Santiago de Cuba was chosen as the main stage for the January 1st celebrations. In front of the old headquarters of the city’s City Council, from where Fidel Castro announced to the people the victory of the rebel movement in 1959, Díaz-Canel stated that the triumph meant dignity and justice for all.

“This is the Revolution that won democratic freedoms for all workers, placing the means of production in their hands,” said the Cuban president.

The Cuban president highlighted the great pillars of Cuba after 1959, such as agrarian reform, education and public health. In this sense, he highlighted “the creators” of the revolution who “brought it undefeated” to the country’s new generation.

Díaz-Canel stated that the revolutionary movement “deserves the greatest recognition” and that, in gratitude, “the following generations will be loyal to history”.

Díaz-Canel narrated the 65 years of the revolutionary process, highlighting the moment when the Rebel Army guerrilla, led by commander Fidel Castro (1926-2016), victoriously entered the city of Santiago de Cuba on January 1, 1959, to announce the escape of the tyrant Fulgêncio Batista and the end of the war.

The island’s head of state highlighted the efforts over these more than six decades, to try to keep alive the spirit of the 1959 revolution and the intransigence in defending national sovereignty and independence.

He highlighted the advances achieved in these years in the education and public health sectors, highlighting Cuba’s contributions with hundreds of medical brigades that provided their services in several countries, during catastrophes, health crises and pandemics, and in massive literacy campaigns around the world

🇨🇺| #Cuba celebrates today the 65th anniversary of the Revolution.

In the heroic Santiago de Cuba, and with the presence of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and the president @DiazCanelB the heroes and martyrs who liberated #Cuba forever.#EstaEsLaRevolución ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Xv6tzSaU0V

— Presidency Cuba 🇨🇺 (@PresidenciaCuba) January 2, 2024

He highlighted that from 1959 onwards, works of “sustained social significance were carried out which in a few years transformed a poor and backward country into a world reference in education, health, sport and culture”.

“This is the genuine and profound revolution of agrarian reform and urban reform that empowered the people by nationalizing services, popular interests, land, industries, banks, communications, large constructions and investments, transport, the internal and external trade”, he stated.

Díaz-Canel also denounced the US blockade and assured that “the majority of the Cuban people know that unity around the Party and the Revolution will allow the preservation of the Cuban nation and its achievements”.

“This country has enough dignity, talent and will to overcome the barrier and jump over it with its own efforts. It won’t be in one day, but we will do it,” he said.

Raul Castro participates in celebrations in Santiago de Cuba

In turn, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raúl Castro, acknowledged that there were many challenges faced to reach the 65th anniversary of the Revolution, “but it was worth it. The work of the Revolution and its social achievements even in the midst of difficulties corroborate this.”

“We are gathered in the same place where Fidel proclaimed, on January 1, 1959, the triumph of the only Revolution that existed in Cuba, started on October 10, 1868 by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, the Father of the Nation,” he expressed.

The Army general stated that on January 1, 1899, the United States usurped the Cuban people’s victory over Spain and dominated the island for 60 years. Likewise, he recalled Fidel Castro’s words on the night of victory, in which he warned that “the Revolution begins now. The Revolution will not be an easy task. The Revolution will be a difficult task and full of dangers.”

He stressed that the path has not been easy, especially due to the aggressiveness of the North American government, its military and terrorist aggression and the blockade to destroy the Revolution and erase its example for other peoples.

“The United States Government’s policy of hostility and permanent blockade is the main cause of our economy’s difficulties. Have no doubts about this reality. Even if the enemy invests millions of dollars and a lot of effort to hide it,” he stated. he said.

He indicated that the leadership of the Revolution was characterized over the 65 years by its transparency and self-critical spirit, when discussing with the people the insufficiencies to eradicate them together.

In this sense, he stated that Cuba was forced to create its own ways of doing things, which indicates the creative capacity of the Island, which overcame external aggression, the force of nature and our own mistakes over 65 years.

“Here we are and here we will be”, he assured, and highlighted that this was possible thanks to the resistance of the people, the wise leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, Fidel Castro, the existence of the Party and the unity of the nation.