Remarks by Fidel and King Juan Carlos at reception dinner

We Ibero-Americans have demonstrated that we are
not inferior to anyone, in terms of talent and courage

Your Excellencies,

Illustrious guests:

There are times when a lot of words say nothing, and others when with a few words one can say something.

Today we haven’t discussed, nor are we going to discuss the issues of the Summit. There’s no way to hide how moved I am to see all of you together in this hall. It’s really a privilege. Suffice it to recall that tomorrow the city of Havana celebrates the 480th anniversary of its founding.

What’s more, five centuries ago Christopher Columbus visited us, and in the name of the Spanish monarchy, he took possession of this island. He didn’t ask our permission, of course, but he bequeathed to those of us who are zealous defenders of this nation a pleasant and lasting phrase: "It is the most beautiful land human eyes have seen." Perhaps then the land was much more lovely than it is now, full of natural beauty, a huge variety of flora and virgin hardwood forests with which El Escorial was later built.

I wouldn’t speak today of this being the most beautiful land; I would speak of the most heroic and dignified people that human eyes have seen in this century.

The biggest giant that human eyes have seen throughout history has not been able to vanquish that people, not through dirty wars, mercenary invasions, threats of nuclear war, blockades or lies and slander spread by the mass media, which are today the most powerful and sophisticated weapons.

This is not a corrupt, cowardly or lackey government, nor are the people who receive you today illiterate, disunited or uncultured. We are able to meet together tonight because, inspired by Martí—who along with Bolívar was the greatest integrationist of the peoples he called Our America—we have struggled and won.

We Ibero-Americans have demonstrated that we are not inferior to anyone, in terms of talent and courage.

Today we share with you the pride of a flag which is honorable, with its evocative and proudly red triangle, a single star which has wanted to be so, and will remain so until one day it is finally united with the symbols of those with whom we share the same culture, the same history, the same blood and the same language, and we can do this because we wanted and still want to be what we are.

Your Majesty, thank you for having honored this generation of Cubans with your presence, friendship and solidarity, when for the first time in more than 500 years, even if the motive is a summit, a King of Spain has walked this land which your ancestors chose to call the most beautiful land human eyes have seen.

I lift my glass and toast to so much symbolism; to so many historical links and remembrances; to Your Majesty; to all of you, the representatives of the sister Ibero-American peoples; to our current spirit of cooperation and unity; to the success of our summit.