Home > Fidel Castro Ruz to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Message from the President of the Councils of State and
Ministers of the Republic of Cuba to the distinguished
Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on the occasion of his
election as President of the Spanish government
Granma International
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/marzo/mar16/mensaje.html
Distinguished Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero:
The Spanish people, decidedly opposed to the cruel and
unjust war of conquest in Iraq, likewise opposed by
yourself, and outraged by the crude electoral
manipulation of the unjustifiable terrorist aggression
suffered on March 11, has decided to entrust you with
the leadership of the Spanish government. On the
occasion of this important event, which will have
repercussions in the international sphere, we express
to you our recognition.
I would also like to extend, and in a special way, our
most profound admiration and a tribute of respect to
the people of Spain for their nobility and heroism,
demonstrated so many times throughout history.
I congratulate you on your decision to withdraw the
Spanish troops from Iraq by June 30.
Bearing in mind this decision, I beg you not to forget
that, by virtue of actions and pressures on the part of
Mr. Aznar as president of the government of Spain, more
than 1,000 young men from small and impoverished Latin
American nations were sent as cannon fodder to Iraq
under the command of the Spanish Legion. Thus, the
possible death of any of those young people is the
responsibility of the Spanish state.
The peoples of Latin America thus have the right to
expect the immediate return of those young people. They
do not have a duty to wait until June 30. The death of
any one of those young Salvadorans, Hondurans,
Dominicans and Nicaraguans would be doubly sad if,
being immediately preventable, it is not prevented,
given that the political responsibility of the
principal author of that measure has been swept away by
the Spanish people. The world, and particularly the
peoples of our hemisphere, would greatly appreciate
anything that you are able to do before assuming the
presidency in order to avoid any more Latin American
lives being added to those lost in the unjustifiable
holocaust that took place in Madrid on March 11.
I hope that you understand the spirit of this message
and transmit to you my most sincere sentiments of
respect and consideration.
Fidel Castro Ruz Havana, March 15, 2004