Díaz-Canel: Cuba and Russia Look with Determination Toward the Future

HAVANA, Cuba, May 8 (ACN) "Cuba and Russia are looking firmly and resolutely toward the future," expressed President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez this Wednesday in Moscow, as he led the ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the reestablishment of relations between Cuba and Russia.

The celebration, held at the State Duma of Moscow and attended by Valentina Matvienko—a great friend of Cuba and Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia—saw the Cuban leader emphasize that "history and its coincidences allow us to celebrate the 65th anniversary of our relations one day before commemorating the 80th anniversary of the historic victory over fascism, the colossal feat of the Russian people and other Soviet peoples, which can never be denied."

Díaz-Canel highlighted that "our friendship has stood the test of time and the most complex and diverse international circumstances." History has taught us, he affirmed, that amid the challenges we face, cooperation and solidarity are the cornerstones of this relationship.

He called for continued efforts to achieve the well-being and prosperity of two heroic and fraternal peoples: the Russian and the Cuban. "If in other times we victoriously faced the greatest challenges of both nations, today we lack neither challenges nor motivations to once again walk together the path of freedom in defense of peace, human development, and the future of our peoples," assured the President, who is currently on an official visit to Russia to participate in the 80th-anniversary celebration of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Regarding this pivotal event in world history, he stated that sharing these days of celebration with the peoples who sacrificed 27 million lives in the Great Patriotic War is a tremendous honor. "An elegy to the heroism that saved humanity from the Nazi Holocaust 80 years ago and now inspires those fighting against signs of the resurgence of Nazism."

Speaking at the event, Valentina Matvienko affirmed that despite the geographical distance between the two peoples, they have always felt close. "There is an intense relationship, a true alliance," she said, citing examples of these ties in energy, metallurgy, agriculture, science, transportation, and education, aimed at improving the lives of their citizens. "We share principles of equality, respect for sovereignty, and historical truth," she added.

Matvienko recalled Fidel and Raúl, "who loved our country," and affirmed that "the flame of our friendship will never be extinguished." The Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia referred to Cuba as "the island of freedom" and declared that their friendship is eternal.
An example of this assertion was the exhibition inaugurated moments earlier at the State Duma of Moscow, featuring historical documents and photos that factually demonstrate the enduring and evolving friendship between the two nations.