Cuban President Tops Africa Day Central Act

Cuban President Tops Africa Day Central Act Havana, May 27. -Cuba's President Raul Castro led the central activity on occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of 17 African countries, underway at the capital's Universal Hall of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry.

During the ceremony to mark the Africa Day held on Wednesday, Cuban First Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura recalled that 17 countries from that continent achieved their independence and total sovereignty 50 years ago, after a long struggle against colonialism.

That outrage paved the way so other African peoples could develop, strengthen and expand their fecund battle and make progress to conquer their rights, trampling for centuries by colonial powers, Machado Ventura stated.

"The African nations are an inseparable part of the group of united and independent countries of the world, and that's why the African Union has declared 2010 as the African Year," the leader noted.

"Africa has been and will be an opportune stage to strengthen one of the principles about those to sustain our foreign policy: proletarian internationalism and solidarity," the Cuban first vice president said.

Machado Ventura recalled that during that time, about 32,000 African professionals have been graduated in Cuba in several specialties, and 14,000 of them in university careers.

Cuba is giving solidarity amid the ferrous and genocide economic, trade and financial blockade imposed by the US government, and Africa has condemned it at the United Nations and other tribunes, he stated.

This celebration is a favorable moment to reiterate that Cuba, led by Revolution leader Fidel Castro and President Raul Castro, will continue developing and strengthening relations of friendship and cooperation with Africa.

Congo's ambassador to the island Pascal Onguemby expressed gratitude to the Cuban people and the party's authorities, especially Fidel Castro and particular Raul Castro, for the love dedicated to that anniversary.

The diplomat called international community to support Cuba in its struggle against the blockade and for the return to their homeland of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters unfairly imprisoned in the United States for merely alerting the island on terrorist plans plotted by exiled groups settled in Florida. (Prensa Latina)