Thursday, September 14th 1978.
In a key address at the Arab-African solidarity conference held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Cuban leader Fidel Castro singled out China, Iran, Israel and the West for criticism.
Ethiopia has marked the fourth anniversary of its Soviet and Cuban-backed revolution with an international conference featuring much public criticism of countries which delegates regard as reactionary or imperialist. Ethiopia's President Mengistu Haile Mariam singled out China, which he says is suffocating revolutionary movements. President Fidel Castro of Cuba in a key speech to the conference called for solidarity among revolutionary movements.
Synopsis:
The Cuban leader said the people of Ethiopia had become free, and now display a high level of organisation and discipline. He said the Ethiopian revolution involving the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie four years ago, is an example of the changes taking place in Africa. He advocated solidarity among socialist countries but criticised China's role.
The Soviet Union's delegation was present to hear Dr. Castro say that China is "sneaky and shameless" in its policies on Vietnam, Indochina, Angola and Ethiopia. He supported recent statements from Moscow that China is causing divisions in international socialism.
The delegations at the conference represented many socialist countries, and organisations such as the South est Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Rhodesian Patriotic Front. Dr. Castro pledged continued Cuban support for those who confront imperialism.
He defended the presence of Cuban troops in Africa, and said they had been called by independent states in exercise of their sovereignty, and to defend just causes.
The Cuban leader condemned what he called racist and aggressive regimes in South Africa, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Israel and Iran. Mr. Joshua Nkomo's and Mr. Robert Mugabe's Patriotic Front was among the organisations he singled out for his praise and support. He said Iran is run by a blood-thirsty regime, he alleged NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is interfering in South Africa and the Middle East, and he said the peace talks between Egypt and Israel in the United States threaten the rights of Arabs and Palestinians.
In President Castro's well-received speech, he said that the family of revolutionary states has grown quickly, and in five years many struggling movements have become independent states.
Source: Reuters News Archive.
