UNITED NATIONS, New York.- President Miguel Diaz-Canel underlined the importance of giving to the Peace Summit convened at UN headquarters in New York the name of Nelson Mandela, an unwavering fighter against the derision of racial segregation.

Diaz-Canel said, We do not forget that during the dark years of apartheid, and time after being elected President, Mandela and the most brilliant and honest African fighters were them on lists of suspected terrorists.

Cuba is honored to remember that it shared its struggles in the first line of combat along with its African brothers from Angola and Namibia. We won’t forget about Cuito Cuanavale, Diaz Canel recalled.

He remembered Mandela’s first hug to Cuban historic leader Fidel Castro, and paid tribute to the rebel who fought against injustice, the political prisoner, the defender of the rights of his people and the politician who changed History.

There Remains Much to Be to Fulfill Mandela’s Dreams

In his speech at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, President Miguel Diaz-Canel evoked that Fidel defined the South African leader as an example of an absolutely complete, firm, courageous, intelligent man, and Raul called him a prophet of unity, reconciliation and peace.

The Cuban people remember Mandela in the same way, the Cuban President added, and criticized the alarming announcements of the increase in military spending that will launch a new arms race.

He said: There can be no development without peace and stability, peace and stability without development, and urged to pay attention to the root causes causing conflict.

There still remains much to be conquered to make Mandela’s dreams come true, and the only worthy tribute to his memory is to drive the development of the nations at a disadvantage. Acts more than words. Cooperation, not intervention. Solidarity, not plunder, Diaz Canel claimed.

Apostle of Peace

At the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at the UN, the Cuban President highlighted that Cuba’s collaboration with the peoples of Africa has been maintained for more than 50 years as a priority of the Revolution´s foreign policy.

International peace remains threatened by the philosophy of domination, he asserted, and highlighted that therefore we make ours Mandela´s words when he said: We also want to own our own destiny.

In his address at the summit dedicated to the South African and universal leader, Diaz-Canel urged to work for the future of peace the peoples are entitled to.

Let’s truly honor, fully, the unforgettable Mandela, whom the historical leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, described as an apostle of peace, the Cuban President concluded.