Namibian President Pays Tribute to Cuban Internationalists

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 14, (acn).- Namibia's President, Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, expressed his emotion while paying tribute on Saturday to the Cuban men and women who offered their lives for the independence of his country and of other African nations.

Pohamba, who is also the President of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), placed a wreath at the mausoleum of the soldiers who fell in combat in defense their homeland, located at Havana's Colón Cemetery.

The African President was accompanied by the Cuban Minister for Foreign
Investment and Economic Cooperation, Rodrigo Malmierca, and by Major General Delsa Esther Puebla.

The African head of state, who is on an official visit to Havana at the invitation of President Raúl Castro, pointed out that Cubans wrote heroic chapters in the history of the struggle against Apartheid, for which his country is especially grateful.

During the ceremony of recollection, the distinguished guest and his high-level accompanying delegation paid their respect before the tomb of civilian Dr. Pedro Álvarez who, leading the Cuban mission in Namibia, lost his life on June 20, 1992.

The mortal remains of 287 internationalists are at the Havana Mausoleum to Soldiers who fell in Combat for Defending their Homeland, although the total number of Cubans who died in such honorable mission surpasses 2,000.

Scheduled for Saturday afternoon are official talks between the two presidents. The visit of Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba will end on Sunday.