[NYTr] Hugo Chavez: We Cannot Let Down the Latin American Martyrs
 
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:52:57 -0600 (CST)

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Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
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Hugo Chavez: We Cannot Let Down the Latin American Martyrs

Santiago de Cuba, Dec 23 (acn) On concluding his activities in this 
city, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez emphasized that the Latin 
American martyrs will not be let down, nor the region's future.

Hugo Chavez spoke this Saturday at a ceremony in which he received the 
Shield of Santiago de Cuba and a Replica of Antonio Maceo's Machete 
after closing the signing of fourteen economic agreements between Cuba 
and his country, along with Cuban First Vice President Raul Castro.

Present at the ceremony were Carlos Lage, Secretary of the Cuban 
Council of Ministers, and other Cuban government officials; Venezuelan 
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and his accompanying delegation also 
attended the ceremony.

Chavez thanked the people of Santiago de Cuba for the enthusiasm they 
showed on his arrival this Saturday, and described it as "an avalanche 
of good love." He said he was overwhelmed to receive a replica of 
Antonio Maceo's machete, a Cuban General who fought against the Spanish 
colonization in the 19th century.

Chavez also thanked Argentinean president Cristina Fernandez who so 
generously called him "a soldier, a patriot," during the inauguration 
of the Banco del Sur, (Bank of the South).

"She was right," he noted, and went on to say that actually when he 
flew over the Sierra Maestra mountains, he thought of how much he would 
have loved to have been there as one of Fidel's soldiers.

Chavez recalled the struggles of those who built Americas' history, and 
mentioned the historical realities of the countries of the region.

He pointed out how venal individuals had given away Venezuela's oil to 
the US imperialism until the revolutionary process stopped the practice 
in 1998.

The Venezuelan president said visiting the Cuban National Hero Jose 
Marti's  tomb, the Moncada Garrison and the Granjita Siboney, which was 
the meeting place for Fidel and the participants in the July 26th 
actions, had been very
moving.

In addition, Chavez recalled the way in which Simon Bolivar died, and 
noted that Fidel had made it clear that neither he nor Chavez would die 
in the same way as Bolivar, but as victors.

Based on speeches and historical documents dating back to 1825, Chavez 
recalled that Simon Bolivar was the first person to warn about the 
BempireB of the United States.

He said, addressing Fidel in particular, that all the deaths and 
efforts to achieve independence will not be in vain. "Fidel, we can not 
and will not fail our martyrs, our future, our hopes, we just can not."

Chavez mentioned the great love his countrymen feel for Fidel and all 
the Cuban revolutionaries saying that "Fidel is and will be among us 
forever, even though we miss his physical presence."

Following the Venezuelan president's words, Raul Castro briefly said it 
had been a privilege to listen to ChavezB speech, which he described 
as a keynote lecture, while labeling Chavez' visit to Santiago de Cuba 
as historic.

In response to Chavez' questions, Raul showed him Fidel Castro's famous 
double-triggered rifle, made in Belgium, and gave details of its 
features.

He talked about his meeting with the Cuban leader in Cinco Palmas, 
after the landing from the yacht Granma, when Fidel realized that they 
only had seven riffles and even so said: "Now we will win the war."

Likewise, Raul compared the assault on the Moncada garrison in Santiago 
de Cuba on July 26th, 1953 with Venezuela's July 4th events. He said 
both actions were like taking heaven by storm and that even though they 
both had been military defeats, they were considered political 
victories. In the case of Cuba, the action resulted in thousands of 
Cubans joining the war,
including others such as Che Guevara.

Finally, Raul invited Chavez to return to Cuba whenever he wanted to, 
while the Venezuelan president suggested that the city of Paraguana, 
Venezuela, and Santiago de Cuba, should establish a strategic plan for 
social, economic and oil-related integration.  There will be many other 
opportunities to come
back to Santiago de Cuba, said Chavez, who in turn invited Raul to 
visit Paraguana.

Chavez concluding by saying; "We will make Bolivar's and Marti's dreams 
true, with several republics united into a single nation.

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