Raul Castro Highlights Cubans' Struggle for Independence

The first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), Raul Castro, noted the efforts made by several generations of Cubans to achieve the final independence of the country.

Speaking at the main event on the 60th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, held at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery on Tuesday, the revolutionary leader described the city of Santiago de Cuba as the cradle of the process of struggles that led to victory on January 1, 1959.

Raul Castro recalled that the site of the ceremony holds the remains of many of Cuba's best sons and daugthers, including National Hero Jose Marti; the Homeland's Father, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes; the Homeland's Mother, Mariana Grajales; and the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

According to the PCC first secretary, his speech on the national date was not on his behalf, but on behalf of the heroic sacrifices made by the people and the combatants who have given their life for the homeland over the past 150 years.

In that regard, he recalled several moments of the struggles for independence and how they were frustrated by US interference in the war between Spain and Cuba.

Since then, there were years of domination and control that ended with the victory of the rebels led by Fidel Castro, he noted.