Pic: Baher Amin/The peninsula.
The Cuban mission marked a festive double celebration of Cuba’s National Day and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Qatar with a reception filled with music and dance Cuba is known for.
Held at the Diplomatic Club on Wednesday, the auspicious occasion witnessed the presence of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, Minister of Public Health H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari and Director of Protocol Ibrahim Fakhroo. Ambassadors and other representatives of diplomatic missions along with members of the Cuban community attended the event.
The attendees enjoyed scrumptious culinary delights while being entertained with melodious Cuban songs played live by a band as well as rhythmic dances distinctly Cuban performed by dancers garbed in colourful costumes.
It was a significant National Day celebration as this year Cuba marks the 6oth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.
Cuba’s Ambassador to Qatar Eumelio Caballero Rodriguez highlighted Cubans’ pride of having been able to safeguard their sovereignty and independence, as well as the economic and social objectives achieved by the country 60 years since the triumph of the revolution.
“To only mention some of the achievements during these six decades of revolution: in Cuba illiteracy was completely eradicated many years ago and health and education services are offered completely free of charge, while the enjoyment of culture, sport activities and all social cares are granted for the whole of the population,” said Rodriguez.
He stressed: “Cuba has the largest number of doctors and scientists per capita in the world, the infant mortality rate is one of the lowest with less than four per thousand live births, the life expectancy of its population is compared with the most developed countries, all their children attend school and no one sleeps helpless in the streets of the cities.”
“Our people are characterized by the quality of their human values, solidarity and mutual support, where visitors from all over the world are received friendly in a climate of total tranquility and citizen security,” added the ambassador.
“One of the most sublime values that the Revolution inculcated in our people has been its strong internationalist spirit with other peoples that need support and solidarity,” he said, adding Cuba has contributed effectively to the national liberation struggle of many peoples mainly in the African continent.
“In summarizing the work of the Revolution in its 60th anniversary, we are proud and full of satisfaction to note that during this period more than one million Cuban specialists in various fields have served in 169 nations of the world, while more than 30,000 young people, mainly of African, Latin American and Caribbean countries have graduated in Cuba,” he said.
Emilio Caballero Rodriguez, Ambassador of Cuba to Qatar, H.E. Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, H.E. Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Fakhroo, Director of Protocol and Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Eritrea to Qatar during the Cuban Embassy reception for 60th anniversary of the revolution and 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations with Qatar held at the Diplomatic Club yesterday.
The event also marked the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Qatar which the envoy described as “30 years of uninterrupted relations of cooperation and friendship between our two peoples and countries, forged by our unforgettable Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and the Father Amir of the State of Qatar, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, whose mutual personal sympathies and common vision and sensitivities with respect to the struggle for a better and fairer world, constitutes the main source of inspiration that continues to guide the efforts of both countries to develop and diversify more and more these relations of friendship and mutual benefit.”
The ambassador also acknowledged the representatives of “the Cuban Medical Brigade integrated by about 500 health professionals who work in the Cuban Hospital of Dukhan, a medical center of the Hamad Medical Corporation that has gained an outstanding regional and international reputation for the quality of its services.”
“This hospital is an example and the jewel of the bilateral cooperation between our two peoples and countries, and a concrete contribution to the efforts being made by the authorities of the State of Qatar to improve more and more the medical assistance of its people,” he added.
He emphasized that Cubans will never forget the solidarity and friendly speech delivered by H H the Father Amir before more than a million Cubans in the Revolution Square in Havana during the funeral of Castro in 2016.
He said that Qatar and its people are very dear to all Cubans, as Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani could personally confirm during his visit to Cuba.
“We admire the extraordinary dynamism of this small country, its patriotism and defense of national sovereignty, its well defined strategies for economic and social development, the wise way in which it uses the bonanza of its natural resources to guarantee the well-being of its people and that of the future generations, as well as their spirit of solidarity with other peoples in need,” the envoy said.
He stressed: “We admire its refined diplomacy and adherence to the principles of international law and its permanent defense of dialogue and negotiations as the only civilized ways of settling international differences and conflicts, which are precisely the principles that in Cuba's opinion should prevail in the search for a prompt peaceful solution to the Gulf crisis, thus creating the proper conditions for all neighboring countries and brotherly peoples of this region to concentrate their efforts and resources in the economic and social development, in an harmonious atmosphere of peace and security for all.”
He wished Qatar and its people “many successes in the efforts to continue advancing in the economic and social development of the country in a climate of peace and security, particularly in its efforts to create the best possible conditions in order to successfully host the World Cup of 2022.”
