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Caracas – The Venezuelan government on Saturday declared a three-day national mourning period «to honor the memory and eternal legacy» of former Cuban President Fidel Castro, one of the South American country’s main allies in Latin America and the mentor of late President Hugo Chavez.
President Nicolas Maduro released a statement through the Foreign Ministry in which he expressed Venezuela’s «pain» over Castro’s death on Friday at the age of 90.
Maduro said the South American country wanted to convey its «affection and support» for Cuban President Raul Castro, his wife, children and other members of the Castro family.
«In Fidel Castro, Venezuela had its greatest, most supportive and affectionate of friends; a teacher and guide who designed, along with Commander Hugo Chavez, the new architecture of regional integration, based on solidarity, complementarity, fair treatment and a humane vision,» Maduro said.
For the most part, Venezuela’s opposition leaders have not commented on the death of the Cuban revolutionary leader.
National Assembly member Luis Florido, a member of the oppositon, said Castro’s «main crime» was «murdering the dreams of six generations» of Cubans.
Castro and Chavez (1999-2013) «built» the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, or ALBA, and Petrocaribe, paving «the road to liberation» for their peoples, Maduro said.
«It is the duty of all the revolutionaries in the world to follow their legacy and their banner of independence, of socialism, of the human fatherland,» Maduro said.
First lady Cilia Flores also expressed her sorrow over the former Cuban president’s death.
«The giant, undefeated commander Fidel Castro, has left for his meeting with Che Guevara, Camilo (Cienfuegos) and ethernal commander Hugo Chavez #HastaSiempreFidel,» Flores said in a Twitter post.
Other members of Venezuela’s government also expressed their sorrow over Castro’s death and condolences for his family.
Eleazar Diaz Rangel, editor of top-selling daily Ultimas Noticias, noted that after Chavez took office, Castro «did not visit any other country as many times as Venezuela.»
Venezuela was the first country that Castro visited while traveling to a student conference in Bogota in 1948, meeting with then-President Romulo Gallegos, Diaz Rangel said.
Maduro said he spoke with Raul Castro after the announcement of his brother’s death, expressing his «support and love for the Cuban people.»
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