 Comrades and friends, we have gathered here today to pay tribute to commandante Fidel Castro Ruz who died on the 25th of November. Fidel Castro was one of the outstanding revolutionary figures of the 20th century. He was the leader of the Cuban revolution. He was also the leader of the worldwide revolutionary and progressive movements and he was an architect of building socialism in Cuba which became a source of inspiration for all national liberation struggles and oppressed peoples of the Third World. Today in this meeting I welcome especially the Ambassador to Cuba Comrade Oscar Martinez Cordoves and the Ambassadors of Vietnam of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Ambassador of Venezuela, the Diplomatic Representative People's Republic of China and other distinguished diplomats. In this meeting today we are gathered here to celebrate the life of this outstanding revolutionary all over India. The name of Fidel is known and his death has led to an outpouring of tributes from Kerala to Tripura in the northeast and from Punjab to West Bengal. Today in Delhi we are meeting here to not only pay tribute to Fidel Castro but also to express our deep solidarity with the Cuban people, with Cuba in the courageous battle to defend their social system and to fight back all attempts by imperialism to subvert their system. Fidel Castro was a great leader of the country. He has given his support for the liberation and liberation of the country of South Africa. We cannot forget that. After the defeat of Fidel Castro, we have held meetings and rallies in our country and every corner of the world. Today we are congratulating him and we want to express our condolences to him.