Speaking during the National Assembly Extraordinary Session, taking place today, June 1, the President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), Army General Raúl Castro Ruz noted that on this occasion the National Assembly reviewed modifications to the Conceptualization of the Cuban Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development, just as it did in June of last year.

The Cuban President also expressed his support for the updating of the Economic and Social Policy Guidelines of the Party and the Revolution for the period 2016-2021, approved by the 7th PCC Congress.

Assembly members, he noted, were also presented with information regarding the foundations for the National Social and Economic Development Plan through 2030, which will submitted for approval by the Assembly during their December 2018 session.

He also recalled that these documents are the continuation of resolutions approved by the 6th Congress, the newer version of which were presented during the 7th Congress, after being reviewed by the Party Political Bureau.

Subsequently, a popular consultation process was undertaken in every province, with the participation of over 700 delegates and 3,000 guests invited to attend the Congress, during which over 1,000 proposals were made, noted the Army General.

After approving the documents at that time, the 7th Congress agreed to launch a broad, democratic debate to discuss the Conceptualization of the Cuban Economic and Social Model of Socialist Development and foundations for the National Social and Economic Development Plan through 2030, which saw the participation of all PCC members, the Young Communist League, representatives of mass organizations, and diverse sectors of society.

In this regard, he noted that a total 47,000 meetings took place as part of the process, with the participation of some 1.6 million Cubans.

This process - which saw insightful contributions from participants – contributed to perfecting the documents, and represented a genuinely democratic, participatory exercise which not only served as an effective social communication tool but also demonstrated support for the PCC’s social and economic policy.

The new texts were debated by members of the Party Central Committee and deputies in their respective provinces, whose proposals were then reviewed during the Party Central Committee Third Plenum, which ultimately approved the three guiding documents.

This brief but necessary explanation allows us to confirm that these are the most analyzed and debated documents in the history of the Revolution, Raúl noted.

These guiding documents, recently approved by the Party Central Committee and now by the National Assembly, reaffirm the socialist character of the Revolution and the role of the Party as the leading force of society and the state, he said.

This enables us to continue advancing on the conceptualization of our model and to change everything that must be changed, at the speed which discussion and our ability to show that we can do things well, allow, thus stopping us from making serious mistakes which could jeopardize the success of this noble task, noted the Cuban President.

In this very session, the Assembly approved a declaration in support of the government of Venezuela, because it is vital to denounce and bring an end to the aggression being suffered by the sister nation. Imperialist interests want to prevent this people from exercising their right to self-determination; while the gross manipulation of the country’s reality by right wing forces is aimed at overthrowing the government constitutionally elected by Venezuelans, he stressed.

The Cuban President also described the call for foreign intervention on the premise of helping the Venezuelan people as hypocritical. The only way to help the people of Venezuela is to show, through action, full respect for the country’s sovereignty and support constructive and respectful dialogue as the only way to resolve differences, he stated.

If they (foreign and domestic opposition) are really concerned about human rights, their integrity as people should compel them to condemn the coup violence which has resulted in deaths and injuries. Images of youths stabbed and burned alive are reminiscent of the worst acts of fascism. I reiterate our solidarity with the Bolivarian Chavista Revolution, with the civil-military union, and the government led by President Nicolás Maduro.

Raúl also expressed Cuba’s concern over events occurring in Brazil following the impeachment of President Dilma Rouseff, as well as attacks against the Workers’ Party and its historic leader Luis Ignacio Lula Da Silva.

We are convinced that only way to restore the legitimacy of this sister nation’s political system is by respecting the sovereign will and authority of the people. The people of Brazil have, and will continue to have, Cuba’s solidarity in this struggle, he noted.

Raúl also announced to deputies and the entire Cuban population that the National Assembly will reconvene this July to address other important national and international matters.



