Cuban president evokes Fidel Castro's call for world peace

The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, recalled the words of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, about the importance of peace so that humanity can fulfill its potential and live with dignity.

"Peace is only the primary condition to be able to begin, consequently, the colossal flows of energy and resources necessary so that all of humanity, and not just a part of it, can live in an honorable, decent and dignified way," the president shared on his Twitter account.

The text is part of the speech made by Fidel at the closing of the meeting of the presidency of the World Peace Council, held at the Havana Convention Center on April 21, 1981.  At that time, the Cuban leader drew attention to the dangers of the arms race fueled by the United States and the threat to world peace.

In his speech, Fidel Castro warned that in those days the U.S. government had created a special command for the Caribbean and that aggressive maneovers were being reported in the seas off the coast of Cuba.

"The United States is developing an essentially militaristic policy in this region. What is the meaning of that language of weapons, which is arrogant and threatening? It is simply intended to intimidate the peoples who are fighting and above all, it is a matter of intimidating, isolating and imposing a policy of pressure and blackmail against Cuba", he stressed.

In his words, he called attention to Washington's "rigorous and total economic blockade" against Cuba, which was added to the "armed aggressions, pirate attacks, sabotages and other subversive actions".

As if it were today -- but 39 years ago -- Fidel Castro said that to the list of aggressions "we must also add criminal acts such as preventing even medicines necessary to save lives from being acquired by Cuba in the United States."