Fidel reflects on Ministry of the Interior’s contribution to the Revolution

PRESIDENT Fidel Castro has highlighted the valuable contribution of combatants from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) to the survival of the country in the struggle against the enemies of the Revolution.

Summing up the 45 years of that armed body, the leader noted that the missions and functions assumed in defense of the values, achievements and security of the Cuban people have been many.

Faithful to the most ethical principles, MININT members are working so that the people can live in peace, protecting lives and goods on the basis of respect for established standards and laws and never with the use of force, torture or terror, he emphasized.

He affirmed that through its adherence to those concepts, the Cuban police force "is the most decent and honorable in the world in its undertaking to ensure public security and internal order, something that the capitalist system cannot resolve."

In that context the leader of the Revolution explained that the proliferation of ills such as drug trafficking and consumption, sexual tourism and corruption are making it impossible to maintain the peace enjoyed by Cubans in other nations.

In his four-hour plus speech, President Fidel Castro also praised the internationalist missions undertaken by the MININT, a demonstration of what the 200 combatants who gave up their lives for that principle are made of.

The cooperation programs in health and education being developed by Cuba in other nations are the continuance of those humane concepts in fields in which it has much experience and is now sharing with and extending throughout the world.

In that context he mentioned the ophthalmological services for patients from 27 nations within and outside the country, with specialized professionals using cutting-edge technology.

The Cuban leader noted that the island has a similar participation in the training of doctors and in literacy campaigns in various Latin America countries, further commenting on how little is needed to alleviate the situation of other peoples.

He affirmed that Cuba is offering many programs, studies and cooperation without a major effort but with its experience, prestige, ethics and respect, in spite of the flood of calumnies and lies that only succeed in cleansing it before the world.

During his speech, Fidel also referred to the important and promising economic and social advances on the island, that are taking place at the best moment, during preparations for the 14th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit this September.

Fidel Castro expressed his conviction that that event will coincide with the precise moment at which Cuba can make its finest contributions to humanity, as it is in a position to give an enormous impulse to world education and medicine, in virtue of the values created by the Revolution.