HAVANA, CUBA.- The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, Army General Raul Castro exchanged with the members of the Secretariat of the Central Committee, first secretaries of the provincial and municipal committees, authorities of the auxiliary structure of the Central Committee, grass roots organizations and the Young Communist League after the conclusion of a three day meeting at the Nico Lopez School of the Party in Havana.
Raul expressed, “unity is our main weapon” during an exchange of almost three hours in which he shared some ideas on the current tense international scenario marked by conflicts in several parts of the world. He also talked about the application of the so called non-conventional wars to oust governments; the situation in Latin America in addition to historic facts that have marked our country, among them the collapse of the socialist community at the end of the 1980’s, according to information by journalist Leticia Martinez Hernandez.
Raul highlighted that the Revolution’s main weapon has always been unity and that, before any adverse international situation, Cuba will continue to fight and defend its principles.
Recalling the difficult moments during the years of the Special Period which caused manifestations of discouragement among many leaders, Raul stressed that we must “die fighting”, we must always fight with our heads held up high because that has been our main conviction”.
He reiterated that the economic issue is currently our main task because everything else depends on it. Raul insisted on openly facing the problems, open our minds and act with optimism before any circumstances.
The First Secretary of the Communist Party gave examples of programs that have been underway for some years for the country’s development among them, tourism, mainly in the keys to the north of the country’s central region, Varadero, Havana and most recently Holguin.
Among other issues, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party referred to the leadership policy and the need to continue promoting women and Afro Cubans to important decision-making positions.
He praised the role of women during the Revolutionary process, their audacity, preparation and power of organizing.
Raul commented that it is a privilege for him to meet with the leaders of the Party in the provinces and municipalities due to what it represents for the country and agreed to hold them once a year.
The President of the Council of State and Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and the Second Secretary of the Communist Party, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura were also present.
The First Secretaries of the provincial and municipal committees gathered in Havana for three days debating on the work of the organization, the role of its members, compliance with the agreements of the 6th and 7th Congresses, priorities of the political-ideological work, in addition to the Party’s responsibilities in the activities of education, science, sports, transportation, industry, construction among others.
They received information on the analysis underway by the Commission created by the National Assembly for the drafting of the reform proposal of the Constitution and the development of the popular consultation on the possible text of the Constitution, process that will be headed by the Communist Party.
According to the Second Secretary of the Party, the meeting was productive and all issues were discussed objectively. He highlighted the hard work the organization must carry out in the coming months with the constitutional reforms and supporting several upcoming Congresses of the grass roots organizations in the country.
Machado Ventura expressed the need for the leaders of the Party to exchange more with the people, learn about what they are thinking in the territories and think ahead of the problems, there lies the true changes of our working methods, he concluded.