President Raúl Castro receives Evo Morales
On the afternoon of Friday, May 20, the President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raúl Castro, received Bolivian President, Evo Morales, on an official visit to the country
Author: Redacción Internacional | internacionales@granma.cu
may 20, 2016 18:05:47

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Jorge Luis González
On the afternoon of Friday, May 20, the President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raúl Castro, received Bolivian President, Evo Morales, on an official visit to the country.
Among members of the Bolivian delegation accompanying Morales were the country’s Foreign Minister, David Choquehuanca and Ambassador to Cuba, Palmiro Soria.
Participating on the Cuban side were Party Political Bureau member and Council of State Vice President, Mercedes López Acea; a Council of Ministers Vice President, Ricardo Cabrisas; Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, as well as the Ministers of Health and Education, among others. 
Prior to the encounter the Bolivian President laid a floral wreath at the José Martí Memorial, accompanied by Mercedes López Acea.
Bolivia’s first indigenous president also toured the José Martí Memorial facility which preserves the memory of the most important moments in the life of Cuba’s national hero.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: captura de la televisión

Director of the Memorial Center, Haydée Díaz Ortega, presented Morales with copies of several of José Martí’s works.
The Bolivian president toured the facility where he was given a detailed explanation of the life, work and integrationist vision of Cuba’s national hero.
The South American leader signed the visitors book stating: “Thanks to our hero José Martí, thanks to Martí’s rebellion we now have Revolution. Thank you to Cuba and its leaders such as Fidel, Raúl and to the Cuban people.”
CONTEXT
Diplomatic relations between Cuba and Bolivia were re-established on January 11, 1983, under President Hernán Siles Zuazo.
Broad links exist between the two countries in the field of public health. 
The principal Cooperation Agreement between La Paz and Havana, signed by leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and Bolivian President Evo Morales, came into effect in 2006.

Evo is a genuine representative of his people
Speech by the Secretary of the Council of State, Homero Acosta Álvarez, during the presentation ceremony of the José Martí Order to Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
Author: Homero Acosta | internet@granma.cu
may 21, 2016 10:05:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Jorge Luis González
Speech by the Secretary of the Council of State, Homero Acosta Álvarez, during the presentation ceremony of the José Martí Order to Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Havana, May 20, 2016, “Year 58 of the Revolution”.
(Council of State transcript / GI translation)
Compañero Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia;
Compañero Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba;
Distinguished members of the Bolivian delegation;
Compañeras and compañeros:
The Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, at the proposal of its President, has agreed to award the José Martí Order to compañero Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, by virtue of his outstanding achievements, his values and his commitment to his people and the integration of Our America.
From a very humble, campesino background, a trade union leader, member of parliament, protagonist of struggles against neoliberalism and the plunder of natural resources, brother Evo is a genuine representative of his people, of the indigenous, the campesinos, miners, workers and social movements that promote and defend the interests and aspirations of the masses.
For more than a decade he has led the Democratic and Cultural Revolution that has transformed his country, building, together with his people, a more just and sovereign homeland.
The Plurinational State of Bolivia, which he founded, is no longer the poorest nation in South America, in which a third of the population lived in conditions of poverty and neglect. Bolivia today has sustained growth rates and development, significant progress in terms of equity, health and education, and is an example of the successful application of inclusive social policies. For the first time in history, the many indigenous peoples and cultures that make up this nation, see their rights recognized, actively participate in political life and are an inseparable part of society and the state.
President Evo also stands out for his international leadership in the defense of the culture and rights of indigenous peoples worldwide and Pachamama or Mother Earth.
From our apostle José Martí, we learned that “Our America, must save herself through her Indians,” and that the good ruler would not be one “who understands how the Germans or the French govern themselves, but the one who knows with which elements his or her country is constituted, and how to guide them together.”
President Evo Morales has contributed and contributes greatly to the salvation of Our America, to the conquest of its definitive independence and to Latin American and Caribbean integration.
President Evo:
Cuba has been honored with your friendship since the difficult years when, as leader of the social movements, you faced the dangers that fighting for justice and the welfare of your noble people entails.
Your close friendship with the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, compañero Fidel Castro, is an expression of the historic and indestructible bonds of brotherhood and solidarity that unite our peoples and pay homage to the Bolivians and Cubans who fought together under the leadership of Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara.
Please accept, brother President Evo, the highest decoration awarded by our homeland, which bears the name of the National Hero of Cuba. May this recognition also serve as a sign of the respect and affection of the Cuban people for the Bolivian people, for Bolivia and for you.

Cuba is an example of unity, of anti-imperialist struggle
Speech by Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, on being presented with the José Martí Order in Havana, May 20, 2016
Author: Evo Morales | internet@granma.cu
may 21, 2016 11:05:03
Speech by Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, during the presentation ceremony of the José Martí Order, in Havana, May 20, 2016, “Year 58 of the Revolution”.
(Council of State transcript / GI translation)
Brother Raúl, President of the Republic of Cuba;
Vice presidents;
Brother Foreign Ministers;
Ministers;
Ministers accompanying me at this ceremony;
Commanders of the Armed Forces;
Special guests;
Friends from the press and all the Cuban people:

Photo: Estudio Revolución
First, I was surprised by this recognition. On behalf of the Bolivian people and on behalf of our social movements I say: thank you, brother President, for this highest decoration of José Martí, our lifelong leader.
I was also taken aback, as always, by all the solidarity of the Cuban people. Thanks to your Revolution, thanks to the unity of the Cuban people we are where we are, if not many countries, some countries, with anti-imperialist governments.
Cuba, for the social movements of Bolivia and especially for me, has always been a source of inspiration in this struggle for the liberation of our peoples. As a trade union leader we fought against a colonial state; now as President I represent the Plurinational State serving our people.
Cuba is an example of unity, of anti-imperialist struggle; Cuba for me is a model socialist country for all countries of the world. The legacy of the Cuban people, and not only of the Cuban people, of this Revolution, is health and education. I am amazed by all the cooperation you and your people undertake with the whole world.
This asset of the Cuban people, of health and education, a product of the Revolution, I believe in its value as a model of services as regards health and education for the peoples of the world.
Our respect and admiration for brother Fidel. I believe that this generation, we were the children, grandchildren, in times of the colony, of Tupac Katari, Tomás Katari, of Amaru, of so many indigenous leaders. But in these times, the times of the Republic, we are the children and grandchildren of Fidel Castro. He bequeathed us a great fight.
You are aware of the respect, affection and admiration we have for Fidel, for you, brother Raúl, and the entire Cuban people.
Just as before the foundation of the republics, there were fighters for independence and perhaps some others joined the guerrillas, for the liberation of other peoples, at least I would say: I am of the anti-imperialist conferences in Cuba, from the period of the 1990s , so many conferences in the convention hall here in Cuba, as a great lesson I shared the struggle of the peoples, the anti-imperialist doctrines of union leaders, of leaders of social movements, but also of political leaders. This is why, brother Raúl, for the Cuban people, always, our respect, our admiration.
I never thought I would be honored here. I remember when I was starting out as a union leader that I so wanted to learn about Cuba, and there were some people who recommended: “If you go to Cuba, it is forbidden to have an immigration stamp from Cuba. If there is a stamp from Cuba in your passport, you will be banned worldwide.” That is over. Now it is actually a luxury to have a stamp of the Cuban people in our passports.
We mentioned a moment ago, I fully agree, that the United States tried to isolate Cuba; by trying to isolate Cuba, the United States has isolated itself, because everyone is with Cuba. How life changes, how times change.
I am sure we’re in different times; but we are also convinced, brother Raúl, that there are some outstanding issues in America, regardless of economic issues, beyond cultural, social, ideological issues, there are the geographical issues. Bolivia still has a claim regarding the issue of the sea just as Cuba has an outstanding matter with the U.S.: Guantánamo. I am almost convinced that there will be, sooner or later, an anti-capitalist president in the United States, and the day there is an anti-capitalist president in the United States, Guantánamo will surely be returned to the Cuban people. Just as there will be an anti-imperialist prime minister in England, and the Malvinas will also be returned to Argentina or Latin America.
These pending issues in geographical terms are a political, ideological, programmatic and cultural matter; but it is also important to recognize, brother Raúl, I am sure, that this integration process is the one dreamed of by our brother Fidel. I remember, after we consolidated the CELAC, that he called me to express great excitement regarding this great integration of CELAC; the presidents of today and future presidents can never abandon this great work of Lula, Kirchner, Hugo Chávez, of Fidel, and other presidents, these are integration processes for the liberation of Latin America.
Therefore, greetings to Fidel; to you, Raúl, many thanks for this recognition, a recognition of the struggle of the peoples of Bolivia, the indigenous, workers, campesino movement, all social sectors. We understand how important unity has been for the liberation of our peoples.
Again, many thanks, Raúl, thank you very much to all of you.
All the best, congratulations.
While capitalism exists the struggle will continue toward the definitive liberation of the peoples of the world.
Thank you (Applause).