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by Jayatilleke de Silva

Addressing the 17 nation Third Asia Pacific Regional Cuba Solidarity Conference attended by nearly 200 delegates held at Hotel Green Park, Chennai, Sitaram Yechury, Member of the Politbureau of CPI (M), India said "Till date, David has been winning against Goliath and will continue to do so."

All speakers who took the floor expressed strong solidarity with Cuba, which is fighting an unjust and criminal blockade imposed and maintained by the United States for 46 years with ever increasing rigour.

"Solidarity with Cuba in its struggle against the United States will reinforce the global coalition against imperialism and its neo-liberal globalization, Sitaram Yechury concluded.

Chairman of the Conference Convening Committee, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu N. Ram, said that solidarity with Cuba should be strengthened by raising popular consciousness about the struggle of a country which "more than any other was standing up to imperialism, was on an independent national path... and survived 10 US administrations".

Despite unprecedented hostilities Cuba's economic growth rate stood at 11.8 per cent in 2005 compared to an average of 4 per cent in Latin America, it was noted. Cuban MP and President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples Sergio Corrieri Hernandes said more than 1,850 associations of friendship with Cuba exist in 135 countries of the world, speaking of the internationalist missions of his country he said", Cuba does not export arms, war or death but health, education and life".

The Sri Lankan delegation to the conference included Ministers D. E. W. Gunasekera, Tissa Vitarana, Speaker of Parliament W. J. M. Lokubandara, Bimal Ratnayake MP and several others. The conference unanimously approved a resolution calling for enhanced solidarity with Cuba and also called for the Observance of July 26, 2006 as a Day of Solidarity with Cuba.

A largely attended public solidarity meeting presided over by N. Ram was addressed by veteran party leaders including among others DMK President M. Karunanidhi, CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, and CPI National Secretary D. Raja.

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