Cuba's iconic "La Miliciana", Idolka Sánchez, dies at 82

Idolka Magalys Sánchez Moreno, the young Cuban militia face immortalized in the iconic photo taken by Alberto Korda in 1962, died on Tuesday 16 May, aged 82. 

Among the crowd that May Day, 1962, a young photographer focused on the adolescent face of Idolka Sánchez, as she marched in front of the José Martí Memorial in Havana.

One of the almost 2,000 members of the Lidia Doce women’s militia battalion, Idolka saw him approach, camera in hand. He appeared as if hell bent on photographing her, as if he had seen her from a distance and couldn’t let her escape his lens. He had chosen her.

Harry Belafonte on Cuba and Fidel Castro

Harry Belafonte, the renowned African-American singer, actor and civil rights activist who died yesterday aged 96, was a friend of socialist Cuba and enjoyed a close relationship with Comandante Fidel Castro. Some interesting aspects of this long-time relationship are described in his autobiography titled "My Song: A Memoir by Harry Belafonte", pages 356-366:

"I disagreed with almost every tenet of U.S. foreign policy, from the Cold War freeze on any relations with Iron Curtain countries, to Vietnam and its aftermath, to the backing of right-wing tyrants through Africa and Latin America. But I felt a special frustration with America's stance toward an island close to home: not Grenada, but Cuba. 

KKE condemns US government's decision to keep Cuba on the list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism"

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) condemns the decision of the Biden administration to keep Cuba on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, as announced on 1 March.

This is a provocative decision that reinforces the tools used by the imperialists to blackmail Cuba economically and politically and to tighten the blockade aiming at undermining the achievements of the Cuban people and promoting their counter-revolutionary plans.

KKE: Message to the Communist Party of Cuba on the 64th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

On the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) sent the following message to the Communist Party of Cuba:

"Dear comrades,

On the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the victory of the Cuban Revolution, on 1 January 1959, the KKE extends a warm comradely greeting to the Communist Party and the people of Cuba.

Fidel Castro's interview with Barbara Walters, 1977

On May 1977, the legendary leader of Socialist Cuba, Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, gave an interview to ABC's reporter Barbara Walters (1929-2022). It was Fidel's first interview to U.S. television since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. Below you can read the full transcript of the interview, accompanied by a video: 

When will your country and my country have normal relations?

KKE supports the LET CUBA REBUILD urgent appeal

In a statement published today, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas expresses the party's support to the appeal “Let Cuba Rebuild”. More specifically, the statement published in 902 portal, points out:

“I hereby endorse urgent appeal “Let Cuba Rebuild”, addressed to the President of the USA, to suspend the blockade of Cuba for at least 5 months, in order to facilitate the supply of the necessary materials for the reconstruction of the country that was recently stricken by cyclone “Ian”, which caused great destruction. 

Cuba is not alone: KKE MEP speaks at the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions (VIDEO)

KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos

The European Parliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) intervened in support of Cuba at a meeting held at the Committee on Petitions (PETI).

More specifically, as 902 portal reported, KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos denounced the criminal US blockade against Cuba, expressed the solidarity of the KKE towards the struggle of the Cuban people against imperialism and exposed the lies and slanders released by the EU and various MEPs, from social democrats to the far-right, concerning supposed “human rights violation” in Cuba. 

Fidel Castro statue to be unveiled in Moscow

A bronze statue dedicated to the legendary leader of the Cuban Revolution Comandante Fidel Castro is scheduled to be unveiled on Tuesday 22 November in Moscow. 

The statue, created by sculptor Alexei Chabanenko depicts Castro in his military uniform standing on a stone with the inscription "CUBA". 

The memorial will be positioned on "Fidel Castro square", near Novopeschanaya street, in northwestern Moscow and the ceremony will be attended by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel who is currently on an official visit in Russia. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: Internationalist solidarity with Cuba, the U.S. blockade must stop

Photo from the meeting (902.gr)

During a meeting with a delegation of the Workers' Central Union of Cuba (Central de Trabajadores de Cuba - CTC) today in Athens, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas denounced the unacceptable long-standing blockade of Cuba by the U.S imperialism and demanded its immediate ending. 

 

Secretary Koutsoumbas also referred to the constant internationalist solidarity of the KKE towards the Communist Party and the people of Cuba.

Resolution by Communist and Workers' Parties: Down with the blockade! Long live Socialist Cuba!

Resolution to Condemn the Blockade and to Stand in Solidarity with Cuba

The undersigned delegations attending the 22^nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, held in Havana in October 2022 express: 

Our strongest condemnation of the unjust, illegal and inhumane blockade maintained by the government of the United States against Cuba and demand, once again, its immediate and unconditional end. 

We urge the international community to demand that the U.S. government comply with the numerous UN General Assembly Resolutions condemning the blockade and calling for its lifting. 

Final Declaration of the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties

Final Declaration

22^nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties

“Solidarity with Cuba and all the struggling peoples. United we are stronger in the anti-imperialist struggle, together with social and popular movements, in the face of capitalism and its policies, the threat of fascism and war; in defense of peace, the environment, workers' rights, solidarity and socialism”

1. The 145 representatives of 78 Communist and Workers’ Parties of 60 countries, present at this 22^nd IMCWP, held in Havana, Cuba, on October 27-29, 2022, warn about the dangerous situation in which humanity finds itself.

KKE: Contribution at the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP) in Havana

The 22^nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP) was held between 27-29 October in Havana, Cuba, Below you can read the contribution of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) which was delivered in the meeting by its Politburo member Giorgos Marinos,

Dear comrades,

We are holding the 22^nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties in the face of the difficulties caused by the pandemic. We are meeting here, in Havana, to continue the effort that began in 1998 in Athens and in the years that followed travelled to many regions across the world.

The 22nd IMCWP kicks off in Havana, Cuba

Delegates from 65 countries from all continents have gathered in Havana in order to attend the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) which is taking place between 27-29 October at the Havana Convention Palace.

"United we are stronger" is the slogan of the event in which representatives of 82 political forces and 31 delegations headed by their presidents or general secretaries will participate.

Communist and Workers' Parties meeting to be held in Havana on October 27-29

Havana, Cuba's capital city, will be the hosting place of the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) on October 27-29, 2022.

The theme of the 22nd IMCWP will be: “Solidarity with Cuba and all the struggling people. United we are stronger in the anti-imperialist struggle, alongside social and popular movements, we confront capitalism and its policies, the threat of fascism and war. For the defense of peace, environment, workers' rights, solidarity and socialism”.

Nikos Mottas: Che Guevara is today more alive than ever before (VIDEO)

On October 8, 2022, in the fully-packed Studio New Art Cinema in Athens, in presence of Dr. Aleida Guevara March who traveled especially from Havana to attend the event, numerous friends of Cuba in Greece commemorated the 55th anniversary of Ernesto Che Guevara's assassination in Bolivia (read Cuban Embassy's report here). 

 

Among the speakers was Nikos Mottas, editor-in-chief of "In Defense of Communism", author of the book "Che Guevara, Ambassador of the Revolution" (2021), whose greeting speech is presented below:

Cuba exposes capitalism's inherent inequality at the UN General Assembly

Mainstream media will not refer to the speech given by the Cuban Foreign Minister at the 77th UN General Assembly...

Addressing world leaders gathered for the first fully in-person high-level debate of the UN General Assembly in three years, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the true essence of the unjust and unsustainable prevailing international order.

KKE expresses solidarity with Cuba's Communist Party and people in face of Matanzas fire

On the occasion of the disastrous fire at the oil facility in Matanzas, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) sent a solidarity message to the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). As Rizospastis reports, the message reads:

“Dear Comrades,

Please convey to the Central Committee of the PCC, the government and the people of Cuba our internationalist solidarity for the large fire and destruction caused by powerful lightning at the Matanzas oil facilities.   

Cuban revolutionary Jose Ramon Balaguer dies at 90

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday lamented the death of Commander Jose Ramon Balaguer at the age of 90. 

On behalf of his comrades of the @PCC, which he gave prestige with his exemplarity, and the people of #Cuba, to which he devoted his life tirelessly, our heartfelt embrace to the family and friends of Commander Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera, the president wrote on his Twitter account.

Cuba's Communist Party and KKE reaffirm fraternal relations during meeting in Havana

A meeting between the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was held yesterday in Havana. 

 

The member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba and Vice President of the Council of State, Roberto Morales Ojeda, received a delegation from the KKE, headed by Giorgos Marinos, member of the Political Bureau and MP.

Morales Ojeda expressed his gratitude for the firm position of the KKE in defense of the Revolution, as well as for the persistent struggle against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S on the island. 

Cuba bids farewell to Major General Lopez-Calleja

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday mourned the death of Major General Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja from a cardiopulmonary arrest at the age of 62.

On his Twitter account, the head of State expressed his condolences on behalf of the Cuban people: "I feel deep pain in expressing my condolences and those of the people of Cuba to the family and friends of Luis Alberto Rodríguez Lopez-Calleja. A revolutionary has left us, a man who served the Homeland and the Revolution in all its trenches"