CUBA: Castro congratulates Genoa protesters

BY SEAN HEALY

Cuban President Fidel Castro has congratulated the 300,000 people who protested against global capitalism during the July 20-22 summit of G8 leaders in Genoa, Italy, and joked that world leaders might soon have to meet on the International Space Station in order to avoid such protests in future.

Castro, speaking to 600 young people leaving Cuba to attend the 15th World Festival of Youth and Students in Algeria, urged them to fan the flames of rebellion against imperialism.

The worldwide demonstrations against the summits of the world's rulers proved "the growing consciousness of thousands and thousands of leaders and representatives of the whole world" that imperialism was leading humanity to the brink of extinction.

It also showed the awakening of "left and progressive forces after the terrible blow" of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"Open the eyes of the people, unmask the false ones and their lies and hypocrisy, tell the truth to the people", Castro urged Cuba's delegation to the festival.

From GLW issue 460