During the XIV Congress of the National Association of Friendship between Italy and Cuba (ANACI), which began on Friday in Montesilvano, near Pescara, solidarity with the island in the fight against the blockade and threats from the United States was reaffirmed.
On the first day, speaking on behalf of local authorities were the mayor of Montesilvano, Ottavio de Martinis, and the vice president of the Abruzzo region, Antonio Biasioli. They highlighted the importance of ANACI, which will celebrate its 65th anniversary on April 19, when this meeting concludes.
Also participating were the regional secretary of the Italian Left Party, Daniele Licheri; Valerio Antonio Tiberio, representing the Social Promoter ARCI; and Nicoletta Grieco, from the Foreign Affairs Department of the General Confederation of Italian Workers (CGIL).
Speeches were given by Nicola Palombaro, provincial president of the National Association of Italian Partisans; Sandro Scardigli, leader of the Italian Communist Party; Stefano De Angelis, from the Foreign Affairs Department of the Union of Base Trade Unions; and Maurizio Acerbo, secretary of the Communist Refoundation Party.
Later, the national president of ANAIC, Marco Papacci, thanked the numerous guests for their participation in this event, which is also being held in the context of the centenary of the birth of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, commemorated on August 13.
The presence of the Cuban ambassador to Italy, Jorge Luis Cepero, was particularly noteworthy, as was that of Damián Delgado, political affairs counselor and second-in-command of the diplomatic mission, and Rigoberto Zarza, director of the European department of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).
The president of ANAIC presented the organization’s activity report, which included an overview of its work since its founding, and especially during the last four years, since the 13th Congress held in 2022 in the northern Lombard city of Brescia.
It was an extensive report detailing countless activities in support of Cuba carried out by the members of this association, who tirelessly develop initiatives to combat the criminal U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade, as well as to confront other actions directed against that country.
“Living under the blockade means living in constant tension, but it also means learning not to surrender, not to normalize injustice, to continue defending dignity, even when everything conspires to make it more costly,” he stated, referring to the intensification of these measures by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We reaffirm and strengthen our commitment to solidarity, which has distinguished our history since 1961, aware of the path we have chosen and continue to follow: the defense of the Cuban Revolution, of ‘Homeland or Death!’, with the conviction that we will prevail!” Papacci added.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
