DILI, 26 November 2025 (TATOLI) – President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta participated in a solemn ceremony at the Cuban Embassy marking the ninth anniversary of the passing of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro. In his intervention, the Head of State reflected on the deep diplomatic bonds between the two nations, specifically recalling his pivotal 2003 meeting with Castro alongside then-President Xanana Gusmão in Kuala Lumpur.
President Ramos-Horta highlighted how this interaction laid the foundation for the transformative Cuban Medical Brigade in Timor-Leste, which facilitated the training of over 700 Timorese doctors and the establishment of a national medical school.
Sharing personal anecdotes from his visits to Havana, the President described Castro as an intensely curious and passionate leader with a vast knowledge of global affairs, agriculture, and development and praised Cuba’s “incredible international solidarity,” noting that despite its own economic challenges and small size, the nation has acted as a superpower of humanitarian aid. The President cited Cuba’s decisive support in Angola, its adult literacy programs, and its medical assistance during the Vietnam War as examples of an unmatched legacy of service to the developing world.
Concluding his tribute, President Ramos-Horta characterized Fidel Castro as a “giant of history” and a “living giant of knowledge” comparable to iconic figures such as Nelson Mandela and Sukarno. The President emphasized that while people may differ ideologically, Castro’s impact on the world stage and his commitment to humanity command universal respect.
TATOLI
