LISBON.— The general secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party, Jerónimo de Sousa, stated that Latin America is awakening great hopes for the progressive forces of the world, and Cuba is an example of that.

De Sousa made his remarks at the closing of the Festival of Avante, the Communist Party organ in that European country.

Previously, the CP leader, in a meeting with Lázaro Barredo, editor of Granma newspaper, reaffirmed the decision to maintain permanent solidarity with Cuba, whose resistance he called an example for the international revolutionary movement.

The festival was held at La Quinta da Atalaia, 20 km from Lisbon, and was visited by thousands of workers, party members, sympathizers and several foreign delegations, who were able to observe stands where publications were featured on the Cuban Revolution. In the international section, many signs and messages abounded calling for solidarity with Cuba’s five heroes.

In an informal encounter with young members of the Portuguese Communist Youth on Saturday, Sept. 8, Barredo spoke of solidarity as an essential element in the conduct of communists. The likewise president of the Cuba-Portugal Friendship Parliamentary Group, speaking during a forum titled “Sovereignty and Progress: Latin America and Social Movements,” referred to neoliberalism as a diabolical mechanism introduced by the United States to maintain its domination and subjection of the peoples of the continent.

Translated by Granma International

Granma 10-09-2007