Washington, United States.- Culture has been a bridge of commitment between Cuba and the United States, Cuban ambassador Jose Ramon Cabañas said during the opening ceremony on Tuesday night of a festival that is being held an important U.S. institution in Washington.

Our hope is to continue to be like that, the diplomat stated at the opening ceremony of ‘Arts of Cuba: From the Island to the World,’ which the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host until June 3.

According to Cabañas, Cuban culture is probably the greatest strength of the Caribbean nation and the secret on how a small country has been capable of overcoming so many challenges put up by nature and history.

We still believe in Cuba that to be cultured is the only way to be really free, the ambassador said during the opening show of the important event, which featured the performances of renowned representatives of the Cuban music.

He stated that this is the largest festival of Cuban arts organized in the United States in recent history, something known by the creators and performers, who will do everything possible so the public enjoy their work.

Emerged of a mixture of cultures, the Cuban nationality is eclectic. In our expressions, one can identify the European, African, Asian and Latin roots, the diplomat recalled.

Deborah Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, said that this is an unprecedented event that took years of preparation, and welcomed about 400 Cuban and Cuban-American artists who participate on it.

She also highlighted the work carried out by Alicia Adams and Gilda Almeida, vice president and director of International Programming of the institution, respectively, who with their ‘incredible vision, determination and persistence’ made possible the celebration of the festival.

She also thanked the attendance to the opening ceremony of diplomats from several nations, and U.S. legislators and politicians, including Senators Dick Durbin and Tom Udall, and six congressmen.