40,000 young Africans trained in Cuba

40,000 young Africans trained in Cuba

Roberto Salomón

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/cuba-i/20sept-Africans.html

HAVANA.—Close to 40,000 young Africans have studied various specialties in Cuba, a country which collaborates with 50 nations on this continent, Kenia Serrano, president of the Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP) informed Prensa Latina. She also emphasized the importance of the 4th African Solidarity with Cuba Conference, which takes place in Ethiopia, September 21-23.

Organizations from 28 countries – including Cuba and Ethiopia – and invitees from the region have confirmed their attendance, with emphasis on the participation of graduates from Cuban educational institutions.

Serrano noted that 8,000-plus Ethiopians were trained in Cuba and are now integrated in the economic and social life of their country, in the health, agricultural and sports sectors, among others.

There are more than 1,100 friendship associations with Cuba worldwide, of which a large number are African, given the country’s strong links in terms of roots and nationality, she confirmed.

Africa is a very important continent and part of the forum’s work is to learn about the Ethiopian experience and diversify cooperation.

The ICAP president stressed that, since the early years of the Revolution, the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro has been the principal inspirer of friendship and solidarity, together with President Raúl Castro and the legendary Argentine-Cuban Comandante Che Guevara.

Serrano expressed the value of African nations’ support for the struggle against the U.S. blockade of Cuba, which comes both from governments and civil society, particularly within the UN General Assembly.

In her opinion, it is in these meetings, first in South Africa, then in Ghana, moving on to Angola and now in Ethiopia, that the solidarity with Cuba movement is best expressed.

She recalled that this year marks the 49th anniversary of Cuban internationalist cooperation with other nations, which began with the first medical brigade’s presence in Algeria in 1963.

Cuba currently has cooperative relations with 51 of the 54 countries on the African continent. According to official sources, projects underway are mainly focused on public health, with a highly positive impact on indicators in the field and attention directed to the most needy population sectors in receptor countries.

Work is also underway to establish cooperation agreements with African regional and sub-regional agencies, as a way of complementing bilateral collaboration, as well as the support of third countries or international agencies for projects on the continent through triangular cooperation.

Finally, Serrano stated that African participants in the 4th Conference will reiterate their condemnation of the blockade and demand the liberation of the five Cuban anti-terrorists imprisoned in the United States since 1998.