TRUE
FRIENDSHIP
By Fidel
Castro
Yesterday
I received the visit of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
who traveled abroad to defend important oil interests of his country.
During
his visit to Cuba, he seized the opportunity to contact and greet me personally
as he promised on August 13th this year, when I had the privilege of turning 88
years old. On that day he sent me some fruits as a gift, including some
tasteful little ones which look like pearls and which I had never seen.
He also
gave me a sports uniform, which was a gift from the Venezuelan athletes who
pursue victories for their country.
I was
extraordinarily happy that he visited me soon, not just because of the honor of
his presence and rapid action, which requires the difficult task of carrying on
the epic struggle of Hugo Chávez, but also because of the exceptional
activities he is carrying out.
Our
world is experiencing an exceptional and unique moment. Every day the number of
people who are aware of it increases. The genocide being carried out in the
Gaza Strip is one of the most dramatic events. There, 1.8 million human beings live trapped between the desert, the sea and the military power
of a country of the Middle West where the most powerful empire that has ever
existed has created a sophisticated nuclear military and irresponsible power at a cost of nearly USD 100 billion for over half a century. Many people
ask: Whorules whom? Does the United States rule Israel or Does Israel rule the
UnitedStates?
The
facts are visible. Rockets aiming at programmed targets, fats and accurate
bombers, armored artillery and modern tanks attack buildings full of people, as
well as hospitals, schools and service facilities and kill defenseless
children, youth, elders and parents.
Atrocious
events took place before. Without going back further to past millennia and
referring to battles before World War II: the Ethiopian War, the Spanish Civil
War, the Bombing of Guernica, the Japan War to conquer China, and US
interventions in Latin America. These events caused great commotion but they
were not like the horrifying scenes citizens watch on TV in their homes.
Politicians
get upset and chaos become evident in world politics.
So the
meeting with the Venezuelan president was very useful. I thought, however, that
keeping silence would not benefit anyone. With the greatest sincerity I
congratulated him for what he was doing for the martyr people of the Gaza
Strip.
The
countries suffering tragedies deserve a continuous help as far as the resources
of a country allows it, no matter how hard its own situation is.
This is
what Cuba did, even in its most difficult times and under the fierce yankee embargo,
which has lasted more than half a century.
What
Venezuela is doing embodies an exceptional example. The Punic measures of
imperialism against the country are well known since they tried to overthrow,
an eliminate him if possible, Chávez with the help of the fascist oligarchy of
Venezuela. He never hesitated and he was always supportive with our Homeland in
the most difficult times.
I
congratulated Maduro for his extraordinary solidarity with the heroic people of
the Gaza Strip. Just after the release of news about the genocide and the high
number of children, mothers and people who have been injured or killed by the
genocide attacks of Israel, he set a US made military cargo plane, which has
barely overcome the embargo on parts by its manufacturers, and loaded it with
equipments, medicines and food to send it to Egypt and then Gaza. He also sent
his tireless Foreign Affairs Minister to Cairo in order to obtain the support
and deliver it to those who desperately need it.
Since
then, the brave Venezuelan pilots have taken their humanitarian cargo to save
mothers, children and adults from death. I read today, however, an AP cable
from Venezuela that reports about statements delivered by the “Association of
Clinics and Hospitals of Venezuela,” which groups “the country’s private health
centers” and urges the government to declare a state of “humanitarian
emergency” to face “the shortage of supplies, medicines, medical equipments and
parts” that - they claim - “jeopardizes the life of the population.”
What a
coincidence! This demand is made exactly when the yankee-israeli genocide
takes place in the poorest and most overpopulated zone of the Gaza Strip, a
community that has lived there for millennia.
This is
what makes the behavior of Maduro and the Venezuelan military and specialists
so praiseworthy. They are undertaking such an exemplary behavior in the face of
the tragedy suffered by the fraternal people of Palestina.
Many
things can be said about this noteworthy fact if Homo Sapiens manage to
survive and do not exterminate themselves. It’s in their hands.
During a
visit in areas that imply great food perspectives, two female workers showed up. I asked them if they knew my companion. They looked at him,
smiled and said, “President Maduro.” I asked them what their levels of schooling
were. The youngest said: “I’m a high school graduate.” The other, still young
and strong, said she graduated in Physical Education and Sports and worked as a
teacher for several years. Finally, I asked them if they were willing to work
in Venezuela, and they enthusiastically replied: “Of course we are!” I will not
make this longer if I intend to publish this article today, as I told the Venezuelan president.
