HAVANA, Cuba.-TThe documents analyzed and passed this Thursday in the extraordinary session of the National Assembly of People’s Power will mark the course of the Cuban revolutionary process, the party and society, towards the future in the construction of our socialism, President Raul Castro said.

In the plenary of the members, Raul pointed out the program will be drawn up from the Basis of the National Plan for Economic and Social Development up to 2030, which will be submitted to Parliament’s approval in December 2018.

In the closing of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly of People’s Power, the Cuban President recalled that the elaboration of the three documents had its antecedents in the resolutions approved by the sixth Congress of the Party.

He highlighted the broad and democratic debate generated, in which more than one million 600 thousand Cubans participated.

Support for Economic and Social Policy

President Raul Castro said that following the extensive consultation process of the country’s guiding texts, there were 208 061 proposals, and therefore, the modification of a significant part of the content or the original writing.

This activity showed the deputies´ preparation and constituted an important way for the exercise of the popular participation in the debate and decisions adopted, he added.

The dignitary noted that it was also an effective tool for communicating and socializing the fundamental transformations proposed by the updating of the economic model.

Similarly, Raul said, in closing the extraordinary session of the Parliament, it showed the support to the economic and social policy of the Party and the Revolution passed in the 6th Congress.

Reaffirmation of the Socialist Way

The newly approved programmatic foundations reaffirm the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution and the Party’s guiding role, Raul pointed out in closing the extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

The Cuban president said this will allow us to continue advancing in the update, or what is the same, changing everything that has to be changed, at the speed allowing us the consensus we forge within society and the capacity to do things well we show.

Raul called to avoid serious mistakes that could jeopardize the successful fulfillment of this gigantic and honorable task of updating the Cuban economic model.

The also Army General asked to denounce and stop the aggression suffered by Venezuela, where imperialist political and economic interests try to prevent the exercise of self-determination by its people.

Respect for the People´s Sovereignty

They try to justify hypocritically foreign interference in Venezuela claiming they want to help that people; however, the only way to do this is by showing full respect for sovereignty and encouraging constructive and respectful dialogue, President Raul Castro said.

He said to Parliament that if, in fact, the human rights and the integrity of Venezuelans are concerned and the coup violence causing deaths and injuries in the people must be condemned.

The Army General also denounced the events in Brazil, and added that only the respect for the sovereign will and the people´s mandate would restore the legitimacy to the political system of that nation, which has Cuba´s support in this struggle.

Raul reported that the next July the ordinary session of the National Assembly would address other national and international issues.

Strong Solidarity with the Venezuelan people

The Cuban Parliament approved a declaration ratifying its support for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, its legitimate government and the military civic union headed by President Nicolas Maduro, in the face of the serious escalation of domestic violence and international intervention.

The document denounces that sectors oligarchic, in collusion with foreign interests, try to spread chaos with terrorist methods in the name of false values of democracy and human rights that destabilize the country and plunge dozens of families into mourning.

The text also condemns the role of the oligarchic and transnational media that distorts reality cynically, conceals the achievements of Chavismo and avoids referring to the coup barbarism.

The declaration repudiates the interventionist efforts led by the discredited Organization of American States and its frantic Secretary General.

Stop to Interference in Venezuela

The declaration issued by the National Assembly of People´s Power calls for the end of any intrusion into the internal affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the attempts to siege and overthrow their revolution.

The document demands absolute respect for the sovereignty, constitutional order and self-determination of Venezuelans, and defends the right of that people to continue building the social model the Bolivarian Revolution drives.

It also recognizes the efforts of its legitimate government to make understanding and peace to prevail, and calls on legislators and parliaments of the world to maintain solidarity with Venezuela.

The declaration reaffirms the confidence in wisdom, capacity and historical reason of the revolution and the Bolivarian people to overcome their difficulties and endorse a path of their own.

Results of the Discussions

The rapporteur on the work of the commissions last Wednesday at the National Assembly of People´s Power points out that 80 proposals were made and six recommendations were adopted.

In the debate on the conceptualization of the Cuban economic and social model of socialist development, it was recommended that the implementation of an effective regulation of the levels of concentration of property and wealth, as well as the revision of the concepts of “State functions” and “governmental functions”.

On the Guidelines of the Social and Economic Policy of the Party and the Revolution for 2016-2021, deputies also formulated various clarifications.
In order to expedite the elaboration and approval of the legal norms they recommended to create specialist groups, and to submit documents to style review before their final issuance.

Towards an Essential Consensus

Deputy Jose Luis Toledo Santander presented to the National Assembly the proposal of a group of legislators to support the conceptualization of the Cuban economic model and the new modifications to the Guidelines.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs proposed these documents should be constituted in the guiding principles of work for all entities and officials of the State, the Government, workers and people in general.

Toledo remarked that the consensus reached is essential to advance towards the full materialization of an independent, sovereign, socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable nation.

The representative highlighted the proposals that enriched these texts and plotted a precise course for the country´s future.

Steps for the Future

During the analysis of the guiding documents for the updating of the Cuban economic and social model, deputy Jose Ramon Fernandez reminded Fidel, always present with his legacy, and said that in the future the road will be long, demanding and hard, but this leads the Cubans to take it decisively and courageously.

Mirta Milian, from the Island of Youth, referred to the humanist vocation of the texts, and noted that this Thursday, on the International Day of Childhood, the best gift to the Cuban children is this session discussing their future.

Jose Cabrera, deputy from Pinar del Rio, insisted on revising the communication strategy of each sector and entity, and developing it in correspondence with the country´s priorities.

Cuba is not an island stopped in time, it is a nation allowing itself to walk for the future, said parliamentarian Rolando Gonzalez, in the extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

With Sure Steps

We participate in a full exercise of democracy, Deputy Beatriz Thompson from Santiago de Cuba said in the plenary session of the Parliament. She also supported the approval and implementation of the documents making part of the economic and social development of the country.

Parliamentarian Andres Castro said the road has been long and the future must be built with sure steps, as the proposed model included each Cuban´s opinions and will allow the revolution to continue advancing.

The dreams of Cuban youth are materialized and respected in the socialist and revolutionary project we support today, deputy Susely Morfa affirmed.

The Secretary of the Young Communist League of Cuba noted that the documents are a compass for the Cuban economy, and it is the youth´s responsibility to build the country with their effort and their hands; therefore, they must show responsibility and industriousness.

Giving Life for the Future

If it is necessary we´ll have to give our lives because the implementation becomes a reality, Parliamentarian Jose Torres said in the National Assembly, and highlighted the broad democratic process that meant the discussion of the guiding texts of the future throughout the country.

Torres added that we have a long way to go and there will be obstacles and difficult times, but this revolution has overcome everything, always with the extraordinary spirit of victory Fidel and Raul instilled us.

A better world is possible and that is the only alternative of our people, Deputy Jose Ramon Saborido, Minister of Higher Education said, and referred to Jose Marti´s struggle for utopia.

The President of the Provincial Assembly of Guantanamo, Nancy Acosta, asked that each one consciously assume what it is up to him to do in the continuity of Socialism.

PHOTOS: Taken from PL, Granma and Radio Rebelde