Appeal to All Progressive Political and Social Organizations, to All Friends of Revolutionary Cuba

   On August, 13, 2011 comrade Fidel Castro Ruz – the legendary Commander-in-Chief of the Revolution, the outstanding leader of liberation movement in Latin America and all over the world in the second half of the 20th – the early 21st century, the long-term leader of the Communist party of Cuba, the distinguished person of the international communist movement, the Hero of the Soviet Union, the International Lenin Prize winner – will reach the age of 85.

   Exclusive merits belong to Fidel Castro in creation of a fighting revolutionary organization – the July 26 movement. His speech before the bourgeois trial has become the first program of the revolution. The created and led by him Rebel Army has laid a decisive strike upon Batista’s terrorist dictatorship. The main merit belongs to Fidel in uniting of revolutionary forces of workers’, peasants’ and students’ movement. Apparent to him initiative and determination, far-sightedness and tactic flexibility have provided the impossible, as it seemed, victory of the people’s revolution which has turned Cuba from a semi-colony into the Freedom Island in 90 miles from the main fortress of the world imperialism. Half a century ago the Rebel Army and “militianos” detachments have within 72 hours defeated counter-revolutionary gangs having invaded Playa-Jiron. Under Fidel’s leadership the people has settled down to construction of socialism. The fact that the Cubans’ life expectancy is one of the highest, and child mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world – is comrade Fidel’s great merit.

   Comrade Fidel has played a decisive role in affirmation of fighting brotherhood between Cuba and our Soviet Motherland, in preventing the U.S. invasion and defense of all the mankind from a nuclear catastrophe. Fidel Castro has made a great contribution into development of international co-operation of all countries of the world, of international solidarity of peoples of Latin America, Asia and Africa having released from colonialism. He is one of the founders and leaders of the Non-Alignment movement which has united more than 100 countries. By his initiative and under his leadership thousands of Cuban militants-internationalists stood for freedom and independence of Angola, Ethiopia, Nicaragua and other countries against direct or indirect imperialist aggression. By his initiative and under his leadership thousands of Cuban specialists helped and continue to help dozens of countries of Latin America, Caribbean Basin, Africa, Asia and Oceania to get rid of illiteracy, to create modern education, health and sports systems. Nowadays a large number of devoted Cuban medical personnel save thousands of Haiti inhabitants from the devastating earthquake consequences and epidemic cholera. Highly human Cuban assistance which cannot be evaluated in any currency is acknowledged by the whole world community.

   Under Fidel’s leadership Cuba has overstood even the annihilation of the Soviet Union and socialist community by our enemies under the hardest conditions of double siege – the “special period in the time of peace”. Cuba’s example, experience and fraternal assistance, the global authority of its legendary leader have played an important role in crush of the imperialist plans to take over Latin America and in turn of the most part of the region towards genuine sovereignity and progressive changes. It has let the Freedom Island unclench the double siege clamp and acquire new friends. Heroic Cuba’s example, wise Fidel’s speech resist nowadays as well to the self-appointed world masters’ aggression and terror, lie and slander. It is Fidel Castro who made and continues to make a great contribution to saving and development of socialist ideas and practice as a real alternative to capitalism which has dropped the world into economic crises, military and ecological catastrophes.

   We appeal to all the progressive governments, parliaments, political parties and public associations, all the people of good will to celebrate properly Fidel Castro’s 85th anniversary, to send to the hero of the anniversary their words of respect and acknowledgement. The best gift for comrade Fidel would be the enforcement of the global movement for release of the Cuban Five terrorism fighters from U.S. prisons, for cancellation of Washington’s protection for terrorist gangs of counter-revolutionary emigration, for elimination of all kinds of Cuba siege and of anti-Cuban laws.

   Let us wish the hero of the anniversary good health, long years of struggle and victories at the front line of “ideas battle”.

   Let the Cuban Revolution slogans, Fidel’s slogans sound again with renewed vigour for the whole world:

   Motherland or Death!

   Socialism or Death!

   We Will Win!

Members of the Political Council and Public Concil

of the “Venceremos” public movement

A.A.Lashin

E.I.Fradkin

V.N.Chechentsev

A.V.Kharlamenko

S.V.Khristenko

N.A.Yatsunov

Moscow, July 13, 2011