“The historic relationship between the Cuban people and the Italian people is truly a deeply cherished one,” remarked Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Republic, to representatives of the Italian project “Energy for Life: Let’s Turn on the Lights in Cuba,” with whom he met this Thursday evening.
The Head of State held an extensive dialogue with Members of the European Parliament, members of the national parliament, and civil society representatives—members of the solidarity-with-Cuba movement in Italy who launched this project in mid-2024.
The campaign aimed to raise funds for the installation of photovoltaic solar panels at various institutions across the country; a delegation of the project’s promoters is now on the island to engage with the Cuban people, their institutions, and authorities.
Upon welcoming them, Díaz-Canel described the Cuban and Italian peoples as two nations distinguished “by the way we defend our homelands, by our cultures, and by our character; we are joyful, we are optimistic, we do not let ourselves be defeated, and we are dignified peoples—and I believe that is why we understand each other so well.” Reflecting on the emergence of this solidarity project with our country, he highlighted how representatives of Italian civil society and various organizations united to form a single caravan to come to Cuba. In doing so, he added, they have demonstrated “enormous sensitivity and a deep understanding of our problems, while also showing us tremendous support.”
The Cuban leader thanked them for carrying out the “Energy for Life: Let’s Turn on the Lights in Cuba” campaign. He noted that he had witnessed the benefits firsthand during visits to various regions—such as the House of Culture in El Cobre, where he was told about their contributions—and pointed out that this aid has also reached health centers, cultural facilities and other institutions across the country.
“Your presence here in Cuba today, precisely during such difficult times,” Díaz-Canel Bermúdez reiterated, “is an act of courage, because we know what it takes to come to Cuba these days—the bravery required to make the journey.”
“We are condemned,” he said; “we are placed in the international spotlight—especially in terms of media narrative—as if we were the most terrible country in the universe. And that propaganda, that media-driven image, was not created by just anyone; it was crafted by the world’s most powerful nation—the one that controls major media outlets and social networks, and spearheads this entire coordinated campaign of media disinformation regarding Cuba.”
FOR CUBA: ESSENTIAL SOLIDARITY BETWEEN PEOPLES
The “Energy for Life: Let’s Turn on the Lights in Cuba” project has raised approximately $400,000 through contributions from various organizations and individuals to install solar panels at different institutions, primarily in the eastern region of the country. To date, facilities in the food industry and agriculture sectors, as well as cultural and health institutions in Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Granma, and Havana, have benefited from the initiative.
The campaign was spearheaded by the Italian Recreational and Cultural Association (ARCI) and its international-focused NGO; the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL); the Italy-Cuba National Friendship Association; the National Association of Partisans (ANPI); trade unions; and various civil society groups.
As part of the initiative, several parliamentarians, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives from participating organizations, and members of civil society are currently visiting the country to witness the devastating effects of the blockade and assess the campaign’s results.
The discussion was moderated by ARCI leader Daniel Lorenzi and attended by Abel Prieto Jiménez, President of Casa de las Américas, and Fernando González Llort, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).
Walter Massa, a member of ARCI, expressed his joy at being back in Cuba and witnessing, once again, the Cuban people’s endurance and resilience. He reaffirmed his commitment to promoting initiatives upon his return to Europe—specifically Italy—to assist the Cuban people during this time of great need and to continue denouncing the aggression they face from the U.S. government.
“Ours,” he noted, “is not a solidarity based merely on a campaign; it is an essential solidarity between peoples. Cuba,” he asserted, “is a symbol of resistance against capitalism—against the kind of world we do not want to be. Cuba teaches us,” he declared, “that another world is possible, and that world must be one of peace.”
Member of the European Parliament Sandro Routelo, Vice-Chair of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, expressed how deeply affected he was by everything he had seen in Cuba resulting from the aggression the country is enduring.
“A silent crime is being perpetrated against the Cuban people,” he denounced. “We,” he added, “are children of the post-war era—a generation born for peace. That is why Cuba and its people are ‘in our hearts,’ reinforcing our resolve to fight for a new international legal order—one that confronts and condemns the crimes committed by figures like Trump and Netanyahu.”
“The global situation today is extremely aggressive; therefore, I believe an international progressive front is urgently needed to confront this,” Routelo argued.
Stefania Ascari, a Member of the Italian Parliament representing the Five Star Movement, noted that the donations they brought were merely a small gesture toward the Cuban people. Being here, she stated, has allowed them to witness firsthand the suffering involved—specifically the economic, financial, and commercial genocide to which the country is being subjected. Ascari noted that Cuba is suffering under a criminal embargo; we leave here bearing a profound responsibility and standing with its people—a peaceful people who desire peace and have a right to it.
Laura Boldrini, a deputy for the Democratic Party and President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, remarked that for Italians, visiting Cuba is a duty, given what Cuba did for Italy during the extremely difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She recalled that when Cuban personnel arrived in Lombardy, the pandemic had brought the country to its knees; yet, Cuban doctors instilled strength in us, offered solidarity, and gave our healthcare system the confidence to mount an effective response to COVID-19. Therefore, as Cuba faces these challenging times, we have a duty to reaffirm our solidarity with you, she stated.
IMAGE CREDIT: René Tamayo León | Photos: Estudios Revolución
(Source: Presidency of Cuba)
