By María Josefina Arce
"The South needs the South", a statement by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, which remains valid to make a common front to face the current challenges of developing nations, in a world with an unjust international order and generator of poverty, hunger and inequalities.
And with the aim of coordinating actions for the benefit of the peoples, the Group of 77 has met in Havana, for which Fidel is undoubtedly a guide and an inspiration in the achievement of the rights of the 134 nations that make up the mechanism of agreement.
The historic leader of the Cuban revolution was strongly committed to the objectives and struggles of the countries of the Group of 77, which represents 80% of the world's population.
His contribution to the anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist struggles of the peoples and their right to sovereignty and self-determination was decisive.
In various international forums he always defended the construction of a better world, based on peace, respect and solidarity among peoples.
With forceful interventions Fidel unequivocally denounced abuses, the plundering of the natural resources of poor countries and advocated for a fairer and more equitable international economic order.
As he repeatedly pointed out, in the current world economic architecture, our nations are included for exploitation and excluded for development.
Precisely that solidarity and cooperation, without conditionalities, brought Fidel to the Group of 77. Many of its member nations are aware of Cuban assistance in essential areas such as health and education.
Cuban professionals have helped to improve health indices and victims of natural disasters at any latitude of the world's geography. With the Cuban literacy method "Yo sí puedo" (Yes, I can), millions of people have learned to read and write.
This spirit of solidarity, support for just causes and the struggle for the rights of all is what Cuba promotes as pro tempore president of the Group of 77, in which it has played an outstanding role since its accession in 1971.
Fidel affirmed that the diversity of the mechanism in terms of geography, culture and levels of development should not be a weakness, but a strength.
And Cuba relies on that diversity to promote joint actions of cooperation from unity, taking into account the potential of each country, in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Group of 77 Summit in Havana, an event that concludes today and has been described as strategic in the efforts to build a multipolar and more united world, is working on this path.
