Condolences on the death of Ricardo Alarcon

Havana, May 2 (RHC)-- Messages of condolences and sympathy were sent out on Sunday following the death of prominent politician and diplomat Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada in Havana, close to his  85th birthday.

On Twitter, President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez acknowledged Alarcon as a "great patriot and brilliant diplomat of the Cuban Revolution, whose work he defended with passion and solid arguments, making our people proud.  Cuba mourns his departure".

On Facebook, the hero of the republic, Gernando Hernandez, described the moment in which they learned the news al Revolution Square.

"This morning, in the square, shocked by the news, we the Five hugged in honor of Ricardo Alarcon. The history of our case could not be told without mentioning him. He was our best lawyer. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends" wrote Hernandez.

From Puerto Rico came the message from the National Hostosian Independence Movement. A statement said that Alarcón was an exceptional ally of the cause of Puerto Rico's self-determination and independence.

" For many years, he carried out a distinguished role at the UN Decolonization Committee,  where the colonial case of Puerto Rico has been considered during the past five decades."

Granma newspaper listed essential moments of his fruitful life, from his participation in the struggle against Batista's tyranny, the various responsibilities he held in diplomacy and politics of the country, through the battles for the return of the child Elian Gonzalez and the release of the Five Heroes.