By Jim Burns. CNS Senior Staff Writer.
CNS News, November 16, 2000
(CNSNews.com) - Cuban leader Fidel Castro ended an international "world
solidarity" conference Wednesday, thanking participants from more than 100
countries for their support, which, he said, helped Cuba survive the collapse of
European communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Radio Havana Wednesday reported that more than 4,000 solidarity "activists"
from close to 120 countries, including the United States, gathered in Havana for
the meeting of the Second World Solidarity with Cuba Conference.
In a five-hour speech that lasted into the wee hours of Wednesday morning,
Castro said he is proud that Cuba has remained communist. He believes that has
enhanced and elevated the enthusiasm and confidence of those who continued to
support Cuba during what Castro called "difficult times" - when many
people thought Cuba would capitulate.
He also noted "those in western nations who tried to advise Cuba
concerning what it should do to survive are the same who advised the Soviet
Union before its disintegration."
Before Castro spoke, the conference issued a declaration saying that Cuba is
"the victim of a cruel and undeclared war by Washington and that the U.S.
blockade of Cuba lacks political, historical or moral justification."
According to Radio Havana, conference participants said that they had found
in Cuba, "a society of peace and respect for fundamental human rights,
which is very different from the distorted...image of the island promoted by the
'enemies' of the Cuban revolution."
The conference also declared that 2001 will be the "Year of
International Solidarity Against the (US) Blockade and the U.S. Cuban Adjustment
Act."
The Cuban Adjustment Act allows those Cubans who reached American shores to
be granted citizenship in the U.S. | 