HAVANA, Cuba. – Oscar Lopez Rivera, the Puerto Rican patriot symbol of the dignity of his people and its independence struggle, fulfilled this Sunday his dream of visiting Cuba, where he is deeply admired for his revolutionary convictions that allowed him to resist almost thirty six years in American prisons without kowtowing.

At Jose Marti International Airport, the Hero of the Republic of Cuba Fernando Gonzalez Llort, who was Oscar´s cell companion for more than four years, took him in a prolonged and strong embrace symbolizing the Cuban people´s homage of an exemplary son of our America.

Moved for being in the land of Marti and Fidel, Oscar returned every greeting smiling happily with his daughter Clarisa, a tireless fighter for years for the freedom of his father, a goal backed by international solidarity and within Puerto Rico itself.

Oscar arrived almost on Sunday midnight, and shortly after he spoke briefly with the representation of the national press awaiting him. His first words were to thank the Cuban people and express the joy of being in Cuba: A dream come true, he said.

The Puerto Rican patriot will receive the homage of all Cuba, and fulfill a schedule that will take him to several provinces, as Santiago de Cuba, where he will pay tribute to Cuban national hero Jose Marti, Commander-in-chief Fidel Castro, Father of the Nation Carlos Manuel de Cespedes and the Mother of all Cubans, Mariana Grajales.

The Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) was specially prepared to receive the beloved Boricua brother, who will remain in Cuba until November 26.
Oscar had expressed his desire to “embrace the people of Cuba”, an aspiration of both parties that has been fulfilled, as Cubans were eager to receive the Puerto Rican hero in a land that welcomes him as a son.