Cuban soldiers killed in 1977 Ethiopia-Somalia war remembered
December 17, 2007

Addis Ababa, 17 December: Cuban Vice-President Esteban Lazo Hernandez has laid a wreath under the Victory Monument in Arat Kilo [in Addis Ababa] area.

Hernandez, who is also secretary of the Cuban Ministers' Council Executive Committee, was accompanied by the mayor of the Addis Ababa City Administration, Berhane Deresa, and the chairman of the Ethiopian Patriots Association, Like Tguhan [honorific] Astatke Abate.

Cuban nationals who fought along with Ethiopian compatriots during the Ethiopia-Somalia war in 1977, members of the Cuban delegation and other diplomats attended the ceremony.

Some 163 Cubans lost their lives while many others survived wounded while combating the invasion declared by [President] Siyad Barre of Somalia against Ethiopia.

Source: ENA website, Addis Ababa, in English 17 Dec 07
© 2007 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Monument to Cuban Internationalists dedicated in Addis Ababa
December 17, 2007

ADDIS ABABA, December 17.—Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo and Tesome Toga, the Ethiopian parliamentary president, today inaugurated in this capital city the Monument Park dedicated to Cuban internationalists who died in this African country.

Berhame Deresa, mayor of Addis Ababa; Kuma Demeksa, minister of defense; and TesomeToga spoke during the solemn ceremony.

In his closing words Lazo thanked Ethiopia for the gesture on behalf of the families of the 163 Cubans who died in the country and the thousands of internationalists, military as well as civilian, who generously offered their support to the development of the country.

The vice president conveyed the gratitude of the Cuban government – and especially, of President Fidel Castro and first Vice President Raúl Castro, as well as that of the entire Cuban people for the beautiful gift, which will be a symbol of the friendship between the two countries.

The Cuban delegation attending the event included Division General Urbelino Betancourt, Brigadier Generals Manuel Pérez, Arnaldo Tamyo and Rafael Ruiz, as well as Colonel Orlando Cardoso Villavicecio and a group of civilians who served in Ethiopia during the war.

Lazo and the Ethiopian parliamentary president both laid wreaths before photographs of the Cuban martyrs and planted trees symbolizing the friendship of the two nations.

Shortly afterwards, Esteban Lazo, accompanied by the mayor, placed a floral wreath on a monument dedicated to the victory over fascism. The Cuban leader also received the keys to the city from the mayor and met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, with whom he discussed issues of mutual concern. Later in the afternoon, an event was organized on Cuban-Ethiopian relations of friendship, where Colonel Fedekade Gebreyes and Brigadier General Rafael Ruiz spoke.

Translated by Granma International
(Description of Source: Havana Granma in English -- Official daily of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. Internet: http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/)