Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	CUBA  
Tarikh/Date 	: 	26/09/97 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	JOSE MARTI AWARD BY PRESIDENT FIDEL 
			CASTRO OF CUBA 


          
  1.    Jose  Marti  was  a collosus who  strode  gloriously
  across  the pages of Cuban revolutionary history.  He  was
  both  a  man  of action and of letters, whose entire  life
  was  dedicated to the just cause of the Cuban nation - its
  liberty,  independence and sovereignty.   He  was  also  a
  citizen  of  the world.  During his illustrious  lifetime,
  his   work   stressed  the  importance  and  benefits   of
  promoting  and  safeguarding  social  justice,  peace  and
  development,  to  Jose Marti, colonialism and  imperialism
  must  be  challenged and confronted wherever  they  appear
  and  he sought to rouse the consciousness of the oppressed
  people  not  only in Cuba but also in the whole  of  Latin
  America,  Asia  and Africa.  His ideals remain  alive  and
  relevant  today  not  only for Cuba  but  for  all  of  us
  striving  for  the very ideals Jose Marti  stood  for  and
  died for.
  
  2.    I am therefore very proud to receive this award  and
  on  my  own  behalf and that of the people of Malaysia,  I
  would  like  to  express our profound  gratitude  to  H.E.
  President Castro and the Government of Cuba for this  high
  Honour.   This  award is both a recognition  for  our  won
  struggle   for  independence  as  well  as   an   enduring
  inspiration to hold fast to those very ideals  which  Jose
  Marti so eminently epitomizes.
  
  3.    H.E. President Castro stands today as the embodiment
  of  a  leader  who against all odds, remains steadfast  in
  the  struggle  to  bring  progress  and  development  with
  dignity  to  his  nation.  Jose Marti's  vision  is  alive
  today  as reflected in Your Excellency's selfless  service
  to  the Cuban people.  We wish you and the people of  Cuba
  every success in your endeavours.

  4.    For  developing  countries' the  tasks  of  national
  development  is  indeed daunting.  We are confronted  with
  rapidly  changing  circumstances,  in  which  the   global
  political  and economic environments are seldom  sensitive
  to  our  particular needs and interests.  With  the  trend
  towards  globalisation  and liberalisation  of  the  world
  economy  gaining momentum, we have to learn  not  only  to
  adjust  and  adapt to such development, but also  to  deal
  with    the    imposition   of   the    ever    increasing
  conditionalities  by  those  in  position  of  power   and
  influence  in  the  international  arena.   The  rich  and
  powerful continue to dictate and to seek control.
  
  5.    We are weak and almost helpless to turn the tide  on
  our  own  individually.   We  need  to  foster  solidarity
  amongst  those  countries which are prey to such  policies
  and  with  our collective weight we can hope to wrest  for
  ourselves  our right to influence and shape  policies  and
  decisions  which have profound impact on our won survival.
  In  South  East Asia, currency manipulators  have  brought
  disastrous  consequences to our national economies  wiping
  out decades of hard work by our people.
  
  6.    The  South must therefore stand together in a strong
  united  front.  I believe that wherever possible,  in  the
  non-aligned  movement and in the United Nations,  we  must
  speak  our  against such injustices.  Developing countries
  must  not  be  dictated to.  The goal posts  must  not  be
  allowed to be changed every time to the advantage only  of
  the rich and powerful.
  
  7.    Our collective strength can help us stand up to  the
  world.   But we need to strengthen ourselves individually.
  My   visit   to  Cuba  with  a  delegation  of   Malaysian
  businessmen  is to see for ourselves how we can  cooperate
  for  the mutual benefits of our two countries.  There must
  be  areas  for posibble cooperation that can draw  on  the
  strength of our different experiences.  We must seek  ways
  to  build on our individual advantages, to strengthen  and
  develop  complementarities.  In this  way  we  can  better
  stand  up  to  the vagaries of the unbridled international
  market place.

  8.    Allow  me  to  conclude by  expressing  our  sincere
  appreciation  for  this great honour and  recognition.   I
  wish   to   take  this  opportunity  to  also  thank   the
  government  and  the people of Cuba,  for  the  very  warm
  welcome  and  hospitality extended to me  and  the  entire
  delegation.   The Government and people of  Malaysia  look
  forward to welcoming Your Excellency in Kuala Lumpur.          
  


 



 









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