On his Twitter account, the head of State wrote that he had “a meeting of brotherhood” with the Cuban Army General, in the company of Rafael Correa, “leaders who have always offered us their friendship and support.”

I am glad to see them and ratify together the validity of the dreams of union for which Commander Chavez fought, he highlighted.

Maduro also met with the president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Luis Arce; Commander Daniel Ortega, from Nicaragua; and Prime Ministers Ralph Gonsalves, from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Roosevelt Skerrit, from Dominica.

He also spoke with the Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya, after the World Meeting for the Validity of Commander Chavez’s Bolivarian Thought in the 21st century, which was attended by more than 100 intellectuals and experts from 60 countries from all continents.

At the closing session of the event, the Cuban Army General ratified that the tribute from Cuba and its people to Hugo Chavez will always accompany and follow him.

Raul highlighted that Chavez and his fellow fighters shook our continent and impacted the contemporary history of our America.

He stressed that we have been marked by Chavez and we have witnessed the aggressions and the economic war to overthrow the Bolivarian process, but also, we have witnessed with pride that the Venezuelan people have known how to defend their conquests and not disappoint them, Raul noted.

The Cuban leader stressed that we have also witnessed the leadership of Nicolas Maduro to continue the work of Chavez and his ability to resist and win.

He assured that “Cuba was and will be next to the Venezuelan people, next to Maduro and the civic-military union of the Bolivarian and Chavista people.”

In his speech, the historic Cuban leader pointed out that one of the strengths of Chávez’s leadership was his loyalty to the principles and commitments he assumed, and assured that he set goals that also show us the way.

The Cuban people, Raul pointed out, quickly identified Chavez’s qualities, his charisma, sympathy and his gift with the people, and when he found out about his illness, he inquired about his condition, his evolution and what could be done.

Raul Castro remarked that Chavez put into practice the “yes we can” concept on a daily basis, although the challenges were immense.

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