Havana.- Casa de las Américas hosted a meeting between representatives of Cuban civil society and representatives of the "Open Arms" solidarity initiative and other organizations to express gratitude for their support to Cuba.
The host and president of Casa de las Américas, Abel Prieto Jiménez, commented that he was impressed by the struggle of Open Arms, as synthesized in various audiovisual materials presented to the event attendees.
During his speech, the Cuban intellectual greeted Palestinian students, the ambassador of that nation to Cuba, and all those present, adding: "the Palestinian cause has always been ours; Palestine is not in Our America, but it is in the heart of Casa de las Américas.
"Prieto Jiménez recalled that the founding of Casa de las Américas stemmed from the vision of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and the heroine Haydée Santamaría Cuadrado, aimed at countering the attempts at isolation that Cuba would face following the triumph of the Revolution—a thought that remains relevant today.
"It was necessary to ensure that a Cuban institution maintained relations with the Latin American family, and this happened very soon after Cuba's expulsion from the Organization of American States (OAS)," he explained.
Laura Lanuza, communications manager for Open Arms, celebrated the presence of Palestinian students and the ambassador of that nation to Cuba at the event.
In its 10 years of existence, Open Arms has managed to save more than 73,000 lives across 123 missions, including responding to the DANA disaster in Spain, the earthquake that struck Syria, and rescues of migrants in the Mediterranean and the Aegean, among others.
Using the Astral as its flagship, and although it seemed like madness, she said, Open Arms has crossed the Atlantic to help Cuba despite the great challenge.
Special guests included a representation of young Palestinians and Sahrawis studying in Cuba, as well as the missions of both nations in the Greater Antilles.
Óscar Camps, founder of Open Arms, sent a message from the sailing vessel Astral in which he reaffirmed the purpose of the mission, which seeks to guarantee the energy autonomy of the Juan Manuel Márquez pediatric hospital.
"We believe that when there is a need and the possibility to help exists, we must do it," remarked the Catalan activist, who expects to arrive in Havana this July 19th.
Miguel Urban Crespo, a Spanish activist and politician, and co-founder of the Podemos Party, noted the authentic pleasure of accompanying the first mission of a civil society ship crossing the Atlantic to support Cuba.
"We are here; this has been paid for by people who wanted to bond with the Cuban people, who are subjected to an illegal blockade," he emphasized, while also asserting that such a policy should be considered a war crime.
"If the so-to-be International Community does nothing, it is the time for the peoples [of the world]," he insisted, reflecting on the power of examples and on those who do not want solidarity to spread among nations.
"The true heroes and heroines of this story are the Cuban men and women; it is not the Astral, it is not the campaign, it is the Cuban people," he stated.
"If there is an emblem of the Cuban Revolution, it is the public and universal healthcare that has been distributed," he said, noting that with more than a million doctors worldwide, this has been one of the targets of the current U.S. administration.
Urban Crespo expressed his gratitude to Open Arms, noting that although 150 institutions have signed on, they proposed the initiative and are bringing it to fruition to ensure that imperialist policy does not again force people to use manual bellows for oxygen during power outages.
Ana Miranda Paz, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Galician Nationalist Bloc, also greeted the Palestinian and Sahrawi students studying in Cuba, noting that the goal of her delegation is to accompany the solidarity mission.
The MEP further noted that in the European Parliament, they defend Spain's interests and also raise their voices for just causes, which is why they defend the Sahrawis, the Palestinians, and the Cubans against the criminal, illegal, and inhumane blockade.
Among the attendees were Norma Goicoechea, president of the Cuban Association of United Nations (ACNU); Marta Bonet Cruz, president of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC); and the vice presidents of said organization, Yuris Nórido and Magda Resik, among other personalities and guests.
(Taken from Cubasí)
