BY JANET ROTH
SYDNEY, Australia - "The last 10 years have seen very
dramatic events in the world. But we see that the friends of
Cuba haven't changed because Cuba hasn't changed. We are
loyal to the principles of freedom, human dignity, and
socialism, and we're not planning to change that. What is
most important is that we deeply believe in what we're
doing."
These were the opening words of Basilio Gutierrez to the national meeting of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society held here May 19-21.
Gutierrez, an official of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), was a special guest at the meeting, along with ICAP vice-president Eva Seoane and the Cuban Consul-General to Australia, Marcelino Fajardo.
Some 50 other participants represented nearly every friendship society in Australia and from New Zealand.
Gutierrez outlined the economic crisis that the Cuban people face, precipitated by the collapse of trade with the former Soviet Union, and the dramatic impact this has had. "The United States thought it was their historic opportunity to destroy not just the Cuban system but the example of Cuba," he explained. "But the Cuban people have not lost their spirit, which is the fundamental question in being able to face the future.
"We have not overcome the crisis but our efforts are in the right direction, Gutierrez said. "The Cuban economy has the capacity to overcome the critical period, slowly but firmly."
Participants at the meeting discussed forthcoming tours of Australia by Cuban representatives. They greeted with enthusiasm the news that Cuban foreign minister Roberto Robaina would be visiting in June and be available to speak at a public meeting in Sydney on June 24, and resolved to build this as broadly as possible.
More immediately, the activists discussed the details of the May-June tour of Australia, New Zealand, and possibly the Philippines by Alejandro Herrera, a representative of the Union of Young Communists (UJC).
Throughout his tour, Herrera will be building participation in the "Cuba Lives" International Youth Festival that will take place in Cuba in August. Gutierrez urged the friendship societies to publicize this festival widely.
Melba Hernandez, a veteran leader of the Cuban revolution, is also scheduled to visit Australia, to coincide with the celebration of Cuba's national holiday July 26.
The conference also discussed an aid campaign to provide milk for Cuban children, an environmental project in Cuba, and building the brigade that visits Cuba every January from Australia and New Zealand. The meeting coincided with the centenary of the death of José Martí, a leader of Cuba's independence struggle last century. A special celebration was held, attracting some 150 people, to commemorate Martí's life.
Janet Roth is a member of the United Food, Beverage & General Workers Union in Auckland, New Zealand.