Brotherhood between Syria and Cuba highlighted on anniversary of relations
Damascus, Aug 13 (RHC) The peoples of Syria and Cuba are marking another anniversary of their relations, which were established on August 11, 1965 and have been characterized by brotherhood, solidarity and unwavering principled stances for 59 years.
The board and members of the Association of Syrian Graduates in Cuban Universities stressed today in a communiqué that for almost six decades, the two countries have been a true example of cooperation and dedication to the defense of the just causes of the peoples of the world.
The note highlighted the long tradition of mutual support since the establishment of these relations by leaders Fidel Castro and Hafez Al Assad.
The bonds that unite our nations are unbreakable, despite being subjected to a brutal blockade and the imposition of sanctions and aggressive policies by the United States and its allies, the entity affirmed.
It considered that despite the many challenges and attempts by the U.S. government to create rifts in their relations, Havana and Damascus feel closer and closer because they share values of solidarity and fight in the same trenches of resistance and victory to preserve sovereignty and independence in the face of imperialist aggression.
The declaration affirms the will and determination to continue working to overcome the challenges and expand the level of relations in all fields.
We reiterate our commitment to work to maintain and promote brotherly relations between our two countries, armed and inspired by the thought of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, the members of the association said in their communiqué. The cooperation between Damascus and Havana during 59 years of relations transcends geographical distances and despite the fact that both nations are subjected to suffocating blockades, there are many signs of solidarity based on the principles of humanism and internationalism.
The historical leaders Fidel Castro and Hafez Al-Assad laid the foundations of these ties, which were fostered and strengthened by current presidents Miguel Díaz-Canel and Bashar Al-Assad.
The Syrian people do not forget that a brigade of Cuban military personnel was in their lands on an internationalist mission from October 1973 to February 1975 to support the Syrian army in preserving the integrity of the territory and its independence in the face of the invasion of the Israeli army.During this same period, a Cuban medical contingent integrated by specialists of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation worked arduously in Damascus, in the attention to the wounded of the liberation war of October 1973.
The friendship between both nations was consolidated in 1979, with the visit to Havana of former Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, on the occasion of the VI Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, an action that was reciprocated by Cuban President Fidel Castro in 2001, when he visited Damascus.
In 2010, the current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited Cuba, as a reaffirmation of the indissoluble ties of friendship between the two countries.
Hundreds of Syrian professionals have been trained in Cuba, graduates of Cuban universities, many of whom today hold scientific ranks, and who contribute their knowledge to the development of their nation.
Between 2016 and 2019, Syria received tons of Cuban medicines against cancer and vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, influenza and hepatitis B, at a time when Western countries imposed an iron blockade that prevented the arrival of medical supplies to the Levantine country. Another sign of cooperation and solidarity was Havana's donation of 240,000 doses of Abdala, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus vaccines, three Cuban-produced drugs against Covid-19. (Source: Prensa Latina)
