Fidel Castro - America Owes a lot to the Haitians
D. Torres
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FIDEL DECORATES HAITIAN PRESIDENT IN HAVANA
America owes a lot to the Haitians
• René Préval is the first leader of that country to visit the island in 40
years
• He expresses thanks for the Cuban aid initiative for Haiti • The island is
prepared to
participate in similar support programs for countries badly affected by
Hurricane Mitch
BY ALDO MADRUGA (Granma International staff writer)
THE President of the Republic of Haiti, René Préval,
arrived on November 9 for an official visit to Cuba,
the first by a leader of that nation in 40 years.
Invited by Fidel Castro Ruz, president of the
Council of State and Ministers, Préval also brought
along a large delegation of senior governmental officials
and representatives of various Haitian social sectors.
A few hours after his arrival in Havana,
Préval was decorated with the José Martí Order
in a solemn ceremony at the Palace of the Revolution
attended by the majority of the island's principal governmental figures.
During the event, Fidel Castro affirmed how much the world
and America in particular owes to the Haitians,
who forged the first independent republic on this
continent and the first for people of African descent.
The Cuban president expressed his thanks on
receiving the National Honor and Merit Order,
Grand Cross category, presented by René Préval
in recognition of what he described as Fidel Castro's
contribution to the development of friendship between
the two countries, and Cuban aid, which has never
faltered at decisive moments in Haitian history.
The visitor also acknowledged the Cuban initiative
to provide doctors for his country and their ample
experience in terms of reducing infant mortality in the
nation founded by Toussaint Louverture.
In response, Fidel ratified that will and reiterated
his call that countries in a position to make a
financial contribution to this plan should do so.
The Cuban leader emphasized the daily
information on the billions spent on armaments,
and reflected that if only a minimum part of that were
assigned to the Cuban initiative, Haiti's infant mortality
rate could be reduced from 135 per 1000 live births to 35,
in a nation where some 200,000 babies are born every year.
This program was proposed by Fidel in the wake
of the destruction caused by Hurricane Georges
in Haiti and on this occasion he affirmed that the
program could additionally save many other citizens
in need of medical care that is unavailable to them,
a situation to which Cuban medical personnel could
make a notable contribution at a very low cost.
In that context, he stated that Cuba is prepared to
promote similar programs in Central American
countries heavily punished by Hurricane Mitch,
and ratified his country's willingness to send
the necessary specialists to save as many lives as possible.
At José Martí International Airport, Préval and his
delegation were received by Cuban Foreign
Minister Roberto Robaina and transported
to the Council of State for an official welcome.
There the visiting president reviewed the
Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces
ceremonial battalion which paid tribute to
him upon his arrival.
The visit moved on to official talks between
the two nations, led by Préval and Fidel,
with the principal objective of extending
cooperation across a wide range of sectors and activities.
The Haitian president was accompanied by Fritz Longchamp,
minister of foreign relations; Jean Molière, acting minister of health;
Evans Lesconflair, secretary of state for youth and sports;
Fred Joseph, minister of agriculture; and Marye Penette,
secretary of state for tourism, among other senior government officials.
As this issue goes to press, Préval and his delegation
are traveling through various provinces on the island
on a tour covering the Che Guevara Memorial in Santa Clara,
a meeting with persons of Haitian descent in Camagüey,
and historic sites in Santiago de Cuba such as the Moncada
Garrison and the Siboney Farm.