On Tuesday, September 23, I listened to the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela speak at the UN General Assembly. He spoke for 12 minutes. It was impeccable.

Last night, the Venezuelan delegation traveled to the Bronx where an enthusiastic population was awaiting them. Hugo Chávez who had also been there, left among them indelible memories.

At the height of the current international situation, numerous people have expressed profound ideas and thoughts.

It could be stated that, through television screens, millions of people participated in this historic event.

I decided, the following day, to send a message of congratulations to the Venezuelan President, but not knowing his itinerary I asked our Minister of Foreign Relations, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who is also in New York, to deliver the message to the Venezuelan President.

For my part, I didn’t even expect that at the same time that I asked Bruno if he had delivered what I had written that morning, he would inform me that Maduro was about to begin another speech before the General Assembly. Listen to it! I told him. I immediately switched on TeleSur and there he began his second speech to the General Assembly and his third in New York. This time he spoke for half an hour and left no crucial point unaddressed. Hugo would have been proud to see one of his revolutionary sons saying what he said and how he said it.

That is why I mention only two speeches in the letter and not three. I add only that when Bruno delivered my message, Maduro only asked if I had any objection to it being published. “Of course not” I responded that “it is a great honor.”

Fidel Castro Ruz
September 25, 2014
11:15 a.m.