Second Havana Declaration: Sovereignty and Anti-imperialism

Recognized as one of the most transcendental milestones of national history, the proclamation of the Second Declaration of Havana on February 4th, 1962 became a testimony of Cuban revolutionary idealism and, mainly, of the constant struggle of the Island for its dignity, sovereignty and self-determination.

Although the influence of the aggressions against the Island carried out by counterrevolutionary gangs at the service of the CIA is undeniable, the expulsion of Cuba from the Organization of American States and the subsequent breaking of diplomatic relations between Latin American governments and ours, with the exception of Mexico, motivated the approval of this Declaration.

The crowded Plaza de la Revolución in the capital witnessed one of the most memorable speeches of Fidel Castro, who not only pondered the warnings of the Apostle regarding the interference and hegemony of the United States government over the Patria Grande, but also expressed the decision to continue building socialism despite the vicissitudes and the arrogance of imperialism in its eagerness to undermine it.

In addition to praising the country for the achievements that the then nascent Revolution materialized in education, health, culture and other socio-economic sectors, he stressed the importance of each country having the right to determine its own destiny without external interventions that undermined this autonomy.

Likewise, his words called to face together, as a battle trench, the US aggressiveness, ratifying a clear support to other liberation movements of the region and the world, urging to eradicate the imperialist practices of the global socio-political dynamics, defending, above all, the fundamental human rights and exalting, among them, social justice, equity and the end of oppression in all its forms.

Undoubtedly, the Second Declaration of Havana constitutes one of the documents of greatest socio-political relevance for the Island, clear evidence of the Latin American projection, socialist and internationalist character of our Revolution and, mainly, of its eternal repudiation of foreign interference and imperialism.

Written by Yadiel Barbón Salgado.