Gustavo Cobreiro, rector of the University of Havana, and President Rafael Correa at the Aula Magna..
HAVANA, Cuba.-The title of Doctor Honoris Causa in Economic Sciences of the University of Havana, was conferred today to the head of State of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, in an act attended by the first Cuban Vice-President, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.
Gustavo Cobreiro, rector of the oldest center of higher education in Cuba, remarked the outstanding professional career of the illustrious Son of Ecuador, whom the Aula Magna receives for the second time.
Title of Honorary Doctor to Rafael Correa.
In the political arena, Cobreiro emphasized Correa´s role as head of the Citizen Revolution, becoming the first re-elected president in his country twice consecutively.
The spealer emphasized Cuba cannot forget the unconditional support of the Ecuadorian head of State, who transformed a country, put the human being above capital, and always advocated for a more just and inclusive system.
Infinite Gratitude to Cuba
It is a great honor to receive the title of Doctor Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctor) in Economic Sciences of the University of Havana, and to do it in Fidel´s country, where the first socialist revolution of the Western Hemisphere triumphed, Rafael Correa said.
After having received the award, in the presence of First Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the dignitary thanked the institution for welcoming him again, and called it a cradle of rebellion, heir of Marti´s thought and the heroes of the independence of Cuba.
Correa recalled that before being a president he was a full-time professor, while he pointed out the privilege of meeting Latin American giants such as Fidel, Raul and Chavez.
He remarked the always unconditional support of Cuba and noted that today about 400 Ecuadorians attend postgraduate studies at the University of Havana.
Rafael Correa at the University of Havana, 2017.
Ecuador: A Country with Sovereignty, Justice and Dignity
President Rafael Correa highlighted that after ten years of deep changes, Ecuador is now a republic of opportunities, full of natural and historical treasures, with agreat ethical and cultural richness.
He said that thanks to the Citizen Revolution the last decade has been a period of fulfilled dreams in his country, with extraordinary achievements in economic, social and political issues, and the best indicators in many sectors in the area.
Today Ecuador has political stability, full democracy, with sovereignty, capacities, justice, dignity, a country in true development, Correa emphasized in the Aula Magna of the University of Havana, after receiving the title of Doctor Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctor).
The statesman recalled we live in the most unequal continent on the planet, and of course, he remarked, Cuba is a beautiful exception in that sense.
Rafael Correa at the University of Havana, 2017.
A Better Distribution of Wealth
In a lecture in the Aula Magna of the University of Havana, the Ecuadorian President explained the socialist economic model of the 21st century that drives the Citizen Revolution has had notable successes in distribution, but also in efficiency.
During his investment as an Honorary Doctor in Economic Sciences, Rafael Correa added the growth of the Ecuadorian economy in ten years of revolution doubled with regard to the neoliberal period and the poorest received three times more income.
He argued that in Latin America, except Cuba, there is much to be done to improve the distribution of wealth, and if it is not achieved it will be difficult to continue reducing inequality in the area.
There can be no real social justice without a supremacy of human labor on capital, expressed in dignified wages, social security and fair distribution of production, the President said.
The Best Saving is a Good Investment
Thanks to multipurpose projects created by the Ecuadorian Government to develop key areas such as education and health, the country shows today high socioeconomic rates, President Correa explained.
He added Ecuador is among the three Latin American nations with the largest Gross Domestic Product and this is largely due to the impulse of private investment in the public sector, so today the Andean nation is a more prosperous and less unfair country.
Correa mentioned the repurchase of the foreign debt at market value as one of the fundamental measures of his Government to recover the national economy.
Regarding oil matters, he asserted Ecuador goy $33 billion by renegotiating contracts, as well as fighting tax evasion.
Friendship between two countries.
Long live the Great Homeland!
En el Aula Magna de la Universidad de La Habana, el presidente de Ecuador, Rafael Correa, aseguró que el 24 de mayo entregará a su sucesor una economía en crecimiento y estabilizada, y recalcó que la libertad es la no dominación, la no explotación a los trabajadores.
In the Aula Magna of the University of Havana, Ecuadorian Rafael Correa, said on May 24 he will deliver to his successor a growing and stabilized economy, and remarked that freedom is non-domination, non-exploitation of workers.
Long live Cuba, Ecuador and the Great Homelad!, so concluded the head of State his keynote speech, and later he answered questions from students.