New Yorkers give Cuban leader big welcome

by John Bachtell

This article was reprinted from the July 5, 1997 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

NEW YORK - A thunderous standing ovation and shouts of "Cuba si, blockade no" warmly greeted Ricardo Alarcon, president of the Cuban National Assembly, when he spoke here June 26.

Alarcon, speaking at Harlem's historic St. Mary's Church, had taken time from his busy schedule at the United Nations where he was representing Cuba in the Special Session on the Global Environment. The special session had been called to evaluate the progress since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero five years ago.

Alarcon was speaking to the overflow audience representing various peace and solidarity, religious, trade union and other groups, including a delegation from the Communist Party, USA. In sweltering heat and to waving fans, Alarcon delivered an inspiring defense of Cuban socialism and condemnation of world capitalism.

"We've gone back from Rio," Alarcon said. "The problems of then are more serious. Those economic forces that are destroying the environment are the same ones who are exploiting workers and natural resources. "

Noting that there are 358 people who have incomes of over $1 billion a year which equals the total income of 2.5 billion of the world's people, Alarcon said, "We cannot change the world unless you change economic and social relationships between people who inhabit he planet."

Alarcon asked, "If capitalism won the Cold War, why do they have to continue to fund weapons of mass destruction?"

The flow of resources continues to go to the advanced capitalist countries. The Third World gets nothing, Alarcon said. "The multinational corporations seek to impose capitalism everywhere. But it is absurd to think the problems of the world can be solved by cold capitalist market forces."

Alarcon maintained that each country has a right to build something other than capitalism. "We had to build and defend our socialism under the most difficult circumstances. The economic blockade is the worst in history, yet we continue to overcome." The situation is far from easy, he said. "The economic war has intensified."

Reactionary forces in Congress and the Clinton administration are trying to make the blockade stronger. Alarcon said the reason behind this can be explained by the recent United Nations Report on Human Development which reveals that, in spite of the difficulties brought on by blockade and the setbacks to socialism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, Cuba placed second in Latin America and the Caribbean in overall social index.

The enemies of socialist Cuba have every reason to feel nervous, Alarcon said. "As a result of our revolution ... the people have won the right to a job, free quality health care, education, and housing. These are fundamental accomplishments of the people. Everything else depends on them."

Cuban socialism is expanding the democratic participation of workers, according to Alarcon. "Today in each enterprise workers are discussing production plans and goals. In December, on the basis of these discussions, we will decide the economic plan for the whole country."

Alarcon summed up the spirit behind the Cuban people: "We will not abandon the government of the people and for the people," he said. "By saving our revolution we are not only exercising our rights, we are making an important contribution to the world."