Quito, August 20 (RHC)-- Leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, is the architect and grandmaster of unity.  According to sociologist and Chilean writer Marta Harnecker, the Cuban leader is one of the main promoters of national and regional unity.

During a discussion at the Central University of Ecuador in Quito, Marta Harnecker, who lived for 29 years in Cuba, asked how it is that Cuba still exists today as a socialist nation.  She answered her own question: the unity of the people.  She said that a small island within walking distance of the world's largest imperialism has is still with us because of the leadership provided by the Revolution's vanguard.

Marta Harnecker said that the Cuban people were able to get through the most difficult years of "the Special Period" due to the unique leadership qualities of Fidel Castro and others who guided the revolutionary process. 

She also devoted part of her presentation in Quito to talk about the situation in Latin America and the role of Venezuelan revolutionary leader Hugo Chavez.  She said that there is a Latin America before and another after Chavez.  After Chavez, she pointed out, the map of Latin America changed dramatically.  And while we have entered a period of setbacks in several regional countries, the people should not become depressed, thinking that progressive movements are over -- but work to make them stronger in the face of adversity.