Haitian President Jocelerme Privert, Bolivian President Evo Morales, former Haitian President René Préval and former Brazilian Presidents Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff were among prominent guests at the event, along with leaders and representatives from many other countries.
Addressing the commemoration, Cuban President Raul Castro vowed to protect the Fatherland and the socialist revolution, asserting that Cuba would overcome all challenges, obstacles and threats in the process of building socialism.
President Raul also revealed that, according to the wishes of the late Commander in Chief, Cuba would not use the name of the revolutionary leader for its historic and public facilities.
Earlier, the motorcade carrying Fidel’s ashes arrived in Santiago de Cuba after four days of travelling the country, recreating the journey to independence, called "the Caravan of Liberty", during the uprising led by him in 1959.
On December 4 (Cuban time), the legendary leader was buried in the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in the city, which is also the rest place of Cuban national hero Jose Marti and many other historical Cuban figures.
* During the commemoration, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto asserted that the Cuban revolutionary leader was a close friend of Mexico, who promoted a bilateral relationship based on respect, dialogue, friendship and solidarity.
He said that Mexico was a country of significant meaning to the life of Fidel, where he met his fellow comrade Che Guevara. The country was also the place where Fidel and Che conducted training for first Cuban revolutionary fighters to prepare for the overthrow of the Cuban military dictatorial Batista government.
After the success of the Cuban Revolution on January 1, 1959, Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro kept a very close relationship with Mexico.
Cuban people of all social strata and localities attended the commemoration. (Credit: VOV)
* A commemoration was also held on December 4 by the authorities and people of Moncada Village in Luong Hoa Commune, Giong Trom District, Vietnam’s southern province of Ben Tre to pay tribute to Cuban leader Fidel, a great and close friend of Ben Tre people in particular and the Vietnamese in general.
Luong Hoa commune was twinned with Cuba in 1983 with the name “Moncada Village” and a cow farm in Cuba was in turn named “Ben Tre Village”. The villages are symbols of the solidarity between the two nations.
In addition to celebrating local festivals, the local authorities and people have also held meetings to mark the National Day of the Republic of Cuba. The Ambassadors and Consul Generals of Cuba in Vietnam usually visit Moncada Village to meet and make exchanges with local people to strengthen solidarity and brotherhood.
* The same commemoration was also held in the central province of Quang Tri to show locals’ respect for the great leader of the Cuban people.
Quang Tri armed forces offer incense to Cuban President Fidel Castro at the official commemoration held in the province on December 4. (Credit: NDO)
President Fidel Castro was the first head of state, in defiance of the immediate risks and dangers, to visit the Quang Tri battlefield and wave the flag of the indomitable revolutionary spirit while telling the people of Vietnam that: "For Vietnam, Cubans are willing to give even our own blood!”
He was also the head of state at the forefront of the international movement supporting the just struggle of the people of Vietnam for their national independence and reunification, as well as in the reconstruction and protection of Vietnam’s Socialist Fatherland today.
For the people of Quang Tri, President Fidel holds a particularly important position. During the visit to the newly-liberated of Quang Tri in September 1973, Fidel arrived at such areas where the battle was most fierce in Con Tien, Doc Mieu, Hill 241, McNamara electronic fence, the base of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam in Cam Lo District and Hien Luong Bridge.
President Fidel praised and encouraged the morale of the Quang Tri heroic army and people in the battle to liberate the country, while expressing his empathy over the suffering and losses the people of Quang Tri had gone through on the path to liberation.
