The thought of the Commander-in-Chief as a compass for those who have decided not to settle for the trends of this world, but to revolutionise it through action and ideas, is the essence of the Selected Works of Fidel Castro Ruz presented today at the 1st International Colloquium in tribute to his Centenary.

With the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee (PCC) and President of the Republic, the space became the ideal setting to reflect on the eternal trajectory of that figure.

At the meeting, a symbolic presentation of this collection was made to Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and the Cuban President.

Elier Ramírez Cañedo, Vice-Chief of the PCC Ideological Department and renowned historian, noted that in the 23 books, a Fidel is shown whose greatest legacy is the Cuban people, faithful continuers of his ideas.

He highlighted the trust that this exceptional man placed in new generations, who are not only the future but the present of the country’s transformation process.

Approaching the text is like creating a bond with history and recreating the beginnings of revolutionary epics; the publication is of great political, cultural and diplomatic importance, an open resource for the world to understand the roots of the Cuban nation.

René González Barrios, director of the Fidel Castro Centre, explained the process of creating the Selected Works, which dates back to before the creation of the Centre itself. It involved a group of researchers from that institution and others in the country, and it was always the intention to publish them in the year of the Centenary.

Under the Alejandro publishing imprint and with the collaboration of the Vietnamese political publisher La Verdad, the first printed books arrived in the country and are being presented today. González Barrios thanked the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vu Trong Lam, General Editor, for their support.

The prologue was written by Raúl Castro, who, according to González Barrios, is the Cuban who best understood Fidel.

With nearly 16,000 pages, the Selected Works reflect different stages and facets in the life of the leader of the Cuban Revolution.

Attending the presentation at the Havana Convention Palace were members of the PCC Politburo, leaders of the Party, the Government, the State, and political and mass organisations.