Cuba

Call to resist US on 50th anniversary of revolution

Article published on the 2009-01-02 Latest update 2009-01-02 10:03 TU

Dancers perform during the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution in Santiago de Cuba on Thursday
(Photo: Reuters)

On Thursday Cuba marked the 50th anniversary of the its communist revolution with a speech by President Raul Castro. In a 40-minute speech to a crowd of about 3,000 he said that the next half-century would be one of "permanent struggle".

A brief greeting from former president Fidel Castro appeared in the Communist Party newspaper, Gramma. He handed power to his brother Raul last February and has not appeared in public for over two years.

The anniversary was also marked internationally with a ceremony in Venezuela and messages of congratulations from the Chinese and Russian presidents.

Raul Castro said future Cuban leaders must not "soften towards the enemy" saying that "resisting has been the pledge and the key of each of our victories". Cuba has faced a US attempt to invade in 1961, several assassination plots on Fidel castro by the CIA and a US embargo since 1962,

Raul Castro said Thursday he was prepared to talk with incoming US President Barack Obama but reminded the crowd that "all the north American administrations have ceaselessly tried to force regime change in Cuba".

One day earlier, the White House had said the US would "continue to seek freedom" for the people of Cuba.