[The consul-general of the Republic of Cuba in Australia, Nelida Hernandez Carmona, presented the following greetings to the first congress of the RSP]
It is a great honour to address a few words to all attending delegates to this important event. For this reason I sincerely thank you. The RSP has been a political force that from its inception has demonstrated and has materialised its support and solidarity with Cuba, especially in the struggle against the unjust blockade that our country suffers for half a century. The RSP also has demonstrated determination in the campaign to free our five heroes, anti-terrorist fighters, incarcerated in North American jails.
Since our glorious day of victory, Cuba and its Revolution, always loyal to the Jose Marti ideals, has contributed nationally and internationally to the increase in health indicators and, since 1960, more than 134,000 medical doctors and trained personnel have carried on health activities in more than 100 countries, mainly in the Third World. Equally, Cuba has contributed to the formation of health professionals from more than 132 nations at the Latin American School of Medicine. Today more than 52,000 are studying in this school and amongst them there is an important group from this region, that is, from East Timor, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and other nations.
All of this, notwithstanding the aggression and the blockade that for half a century Cuba has been facing, is carried out with honour and social vision. Just to illustrate to you, I want to take this opportunity to tell you that the blockade has meant to Cuba a loss of US$93 billion. This is comparable to 1.6 times our national annual GDP. This does not take into account the damages inflicted on our economy and to the Cuban people by all the aggressions and terrorist acts from the United States of America that mount up to $54 billion. There is no doubt by now that the blockade is the main obstacle to the development and well being of the Cuban people. It constitutes a flagrant violation, massive and systematic, of the rights of the whole nation.
The United States of America continues, with despicable arrogance, ignoring the successive resolutions approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The almost unanimous claim by the international community that this genocidal policy be lifted falls eternally on deaf ears. To all this, I must add the recent decision taken unanimously by the Latin American community that is, to abolish the resolution that excluded Cuba from the Organisation of American States. That resolution was instigated by the United States of America and that was supported by the lackeys and puppet governments of those days. The Latin American community also censures the isolation policy that for decades has been inflicted on Cuba by our powerful neighbour from the north. Today I would like to stress that the Cuban people will never have doubts in defending its Revolution. It will continue progressing under the banner of its freedom and independence. It does not matter the obstacles and limitations that they have to surmount and defeat. Their will to resist is indefatigable. It has no equal.
I do not want to conclude without mentioning that we will continue working pursuing the materialisation of the dreams of our national hero Jose Marti, intellectual author of the assault on the Moncada Barracks, the action that really started the war toward our freedom. This year, the year of the 50th anniversary of our Revolution, we commemorate the 156th Anniversary of Jose Marti. We pay homage to Che, Camilo and all the other combatants that have fought for the freedom and well being of our people. As Marti said: “To honour, honour.” Therefore I reiterate our gratitude for all your support to our cause. Long live our international solidarity!
Vietnam
[The following greetings presented to the RSP congress by Tran Quoc Khanh, deputy consul general in Sydney of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.]
Comrade John Percy, RSP national secretary; distinguished guests, comrades, ladies and gentlemen, it’s my great privilege to be here at the first congress of the Revolutionary Socialist Party. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Consulate-General of Vietnam in Sydney, I would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to what the Revolutionary Socialist Party has achieved during its first year of operations and wish your first congress to be a great success.
At this important stage, we share the view of the RSP and other Communist and Socialist parties in the world that our revolutionary course has to be based on the scientific theory of social development developed by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels and further developed by subsequent generations of revolutionary socialists. That will lead our way to a commonwealth of social ownership, solidarity and human freedom, living in harmony with our planet’s ecosystems.
The Communist Party of Vietnam stands firmly on the path of building socialism in Vietnam. For that purpose, we need assistance and cooperation from communist and socialist parties as well as peace loving people around the world. And the Revolutionary Socialist Party is certainly our friend, and although it is newly founded, its members have had good relations for a long time with the Vietnamese Communist Party.
We wish that the RSP develops quickly in the process of fighting against capitalism and building socialism in our human society. Once again, may I wish the first congress of the RSP great success. Long live our solidarity!