Compatriots:

Over the next four days we will undertake the "Bastión 2013" Strategic Exercise.

As you will remember, the realization of this exercise was planned for November 2012. However, given the damage suffered in our eastern provinces as a result of Hurricane Sandy, it was postponed until this year.

With the realization of this exercise, we propose as our general objective continuing to increase the level of preparedness and cohesion amongst leadership bodies, all command centers, troops, the economy and the people, to confront different enemy actions.

Hundreds of leaders and functionaries of the Party and the government, officials and civilian workers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, have worked for months preparing for this exercise, creating the necessary conditions to ensure its success.

The aforementioned implies, demands, ensuring that all activities are carried out as efficiently as possible, without affecting proposed objectives.

With this demanding expectation, we will carry out activities scheduled for Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th, designated National Defense Days, in which our people will participate in an equally efficient manner.