Havana, November 26 (RHC)-- Leaders from around the world have sent their condolences on the passing of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.
In a message on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif extended his condolences over the death of the Cuban revolutionary leader to the government and people of Cuba.
Zarif praised Fidel Castro as an exemplary figure "in the fight against colonialism and exploitation... and the independence-seeking fight of oppressed nations."
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Saturday hailed Fidel Castro, saying the late revolutionary leader "strengthened" Cuba.
"Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him and he still took his country out of this blockade to a path of independent development," Interfax quoted Gorbachev as saying on Saturday.
Gorbachev concluded: "In the past years, even when Fidel Castro was not formally in power, his role in strengthening the country was huge."
Russian President Vladimir Putin also praised Fidel as "the symbol of an era." Putin said: "The name of this distinguished statesman is rightly considered the symbol of an era in modern world history," Putin said in a telegram to Cuban President Raul Castro cited by the Kremlin.
"Fidel Castro was a sincere and reliable friend of Russia."
French President Francois Hollande also said in a statement on Saturday that Fidel Castro's rejection of foreign interference in Cuba was a source of "pride" for the Cuban people.
"An actor of the Cold War... he represented, for Cubans, pride in rejecting external domination," Hollande said, referring to Fidel Castro's rejection of U.S. dominance over his country. China's President Xi Jinping said in reaction to the death of Cuba's iconic leader that the "Chinese people have lost a close comrade and a sincere friend."
Salvadorean President Salvador Sanchez Ceren also lamented the death of the Cuban Leader, to whom he expressed his eternal gratitude for the traditional solidarity and support of Cuba in the most difficult moments of the Salvadorian nation.
Similar expressions were issued by the presidents of Ecuador, Rafael Correa; South Africa, Jacob Zuma; the Congress Party of India and several other political, social and cultural organizations in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
