ICAP President welcomes the brigade members. (Photo: Prensa Latina)

Havana, April 23 (RHC)-- "You are going to meet a people that struggles and has the determination to continue betting on a social project of justice for all," the president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Fernando Gonzalez Llort, expressed to the brigade members in solidarity with the island. 

When welcoming them to the Julio Antonio Mella International Camp, the head of ICAP thanked the more than 280 members from 24 nations of the XVII International Brigade of Voluntary Work and Solidarity 1 de Mayo and the Canadian Ernesto Che Guevara, for their presence in such difficult times for our country.

He also highlighted the displays of solidarity and support in the face of the resurgence of United States hostility against Cuba.

"This is the largest Solidarity Brigade with the largest number of participants to visit the Island in recent years and that says a lot about its commitment to the Cuban people and the Revolution," González noted.

Fernando Gonzalez strongly condemned how the United States government supports Israel's genocide against Palestine; as well as the intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, accompanied by an intense campaign of misinformation and manipulation to break the confidence of the people in the Cuban social project.

In accordance with the ICAP program, the members of both Brigades will carry out days of productive work and will accompany the celebrations on the occasion of International Workers' Day in Cuba, on May 1st.

Within their program of actions in the country, which will last until May 7th, they will attend the International Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba and Anti-imperialism, 200 years of the Monroe Doctrine, convened by ICAP.

There they will discuss the topic: “The struggles of solidarity, social and popular organizations in defense of peace and the sovereignty of the people.”  They will also visit productive, health, cultural and educational centers to verify the impact of the blockade on daily life and the creative resistance of the people.

After the closing of the event, a part of the group will attend the VIII International Seminar for Peace and the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases in the province of Guantánamo, on May 4th and 5th.

Others will join the Regional Meeting of the Americas and the Caribbean of the World Peace Council, which will meet on May 6, in Santiago de Cuba.

The May 1st brigade members, from the five continents, will visit the province of Cienfuegos and also the Playa Girón Museum in the western province of Matanzas, to get closer to the details of the epic that occurred in April 1961.

The members of the Che Guevara Brigade, which celebrates the 30th edition of its creation, will tour the western Pinar del Río. (Prensa Latina)