Gambia News : Cuba and Gambia Mark Anniversary of Cuito Cuanavale Victory
Mar 24,2008 00:00
by
tijan
The 20th anniversary of the Cuito Cuanavale Victory was celebrated in
the capital of Gambia, Banjul, last Thursday with the participation of
government officials of the The Gambia and members of the Cuban
embassy.The Cuba-Gambia Friendship Parliamentary Group participated in an extraordinary session chaired by Gambia’s legislative vice president in which a statement issued by the Cuban embassy marking the date was read, followed by a minute of silence in honor of those who fell in combat for the independence of the African nations.
The battle of Cuito Cuanavale, which was Africa’s largest land battle after World War II, was one of the most important episodes of both the civil war in Angola (1975 to 2002) and the South African Border War, and ended with the defeat of the apartheid regime.
The deputies appreciated Cuba’s continued support to the countries of the continent and reiterated its permanent solidarity with the Cuban parliament, government and people.
Likewise, a meeting to commemorate the date was held at the Cuban embassy in Banjul with the presence of Gambia’s deputy foreign ministers and the president of the Gambia-Cuba Friendship Association, among others.
The Cuban diplomatic representative recalled Fidel Castro’s words as stating that the island’s support of the African nations was in return for its debt with the continent, as many Africans were taken away from their lands to be turned into slaves in Cuba. He noted that they contributed to the formation of the Cuban nationality, history and culture.
Also taking the floor during the meeting were Guninea Bissau’s ambassador, Maria Munira Joao Ribeiro; World Health Organization’s representative, Dr. Nestor Shivute; and the Director of the Daily Observer newspaper, Dida Halake.
For his part, Gambia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Momodou Njie, said he appreciated the Cuban contribution to the health and education levels of his country.